Another week in the clean economy brought some major announcements of new jobs and homegrown American energy innovation.

Last week culminated with President Obama’s announcement that nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector financing would be invested in making energy upgrades to buildings, factories, and homes across the country over the next two years. The announcement is a great example of how government and the private sector can work together to provide energy solutions--$2 billion committed by the federal government for the Better Buildings Initiative will leverage nearly $2 billion in private capital from companies like 3M, Alcoa, and Cummins; mayors; university presidents; and labor groups.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes that just the federal component of the initiative could create up to 35,000 jobs.  The University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute anticipates that the program could create more than 50,000 jobs in total.

There was also good news from the solar industry with SolarCity’s announcement of a new five-year project to install over 100,000 rooftop solar systems on 124 military bases in 33 states across the U.S.  The installations could create 750 construction jobs and 28 full-time jobs, many of which will be filled by U.S. veterans and military family members.

Read below for details on the 14 clean energy job announcements this week in 10 states around the country.  

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When the U.S. Navy went looking for biofuels, it turned to Solazyme, Inc.  The company is one of several suppliers selected by the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency to provide more than 450,000 gallons of biofuel to the Navy to use in its Green Strike Group demonstration. It is the largest biofuels purchase in government history.  The biofuel from Solazyme and others will be mixed with aviation gas or marine diesel fuel for use in Navy ships and aircraft.  It is a drop-in fuel, which means that no modifications to the engines are required to burn the fuel.
 

“This historic contract is a major step forward for America’s energy security and the advanced biofuel industry in our country,” Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson said announcing the defense agreement.

Solazyme turns low-cost, plant-based sugars found in microalgae into high-value oils that mirror or enhance the chemical composition of oils derived from petroleum, plants and animal fats. Solazyme currently employs 160 employees in California and Illinois, and has a facility in Campinas, Brazil.  Jerry Fiddler, Chairman of Solazyme, is an E2 member.  For more information on Solazyme, please visit http://www.solazyme.com.