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Clean Energy Jobs Newsletter January 30, 2012, Volume 11
WHAT CLEAN ENERGY JOBS? THESE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS!
Please find below Volume 11 of E2’s weekly wrap-up of job announcements and project developments in the clean economy, compiled from news sources around the country.
This week’s clean energy jobs report shows that solar, wind and public transportation projects are continuing to create much-needed jobs in the U.S.
The Northeast region led this week in the number of jobs created. First Wind initiated construction on its 150 MW Oakfield Wind farm in Aroostook County, ME, which could generate 300 construction jobs. In West Windsor, NJ, 80 to 90 construction workers are currently building Key Equipment Finance’s 5.3 MW solar project, which will be leased by Princeton University. The project, set for completion in 2012, was made possible through federal grants and incentives and New Jersey’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate Program.
Wind power is also continuing to create jobs and provide clean, renewable electricity to communities across the country. This week, the American Wind Energy Association announced that wind power installations increased by 31% from 2010 to 2011, reaching 46 GW. That growth is benefiting companies like GE, which announced that it plans to hire 60 new full-time employees at its facility in Salem, VA to meet demand for wind turbine controls.
Read below for more details on the 13 new job announcements in 11 states from this week’s report. To view previous issues of this newsletter, click here.
Spotlight on SunPower Corp.
Credit: SunPower Corp. Workers at the California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
SunPower Corp. designs, manufactures, and delivers the highest-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems commercially available today. Based on world record solar cells with a minimum efficiency of 22 percent, SunPower solar panels produce up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar systems. The company helps residential, business, government, and utility customers protect against rising energy costs and increase savings on utility bills.
Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower employs approximately 5,200 people at locations around the world. In the U.S., SunPower employs approximately 1,100 people, while more than 6,000 people are employed at 400+ independent dealer partners in 300 cities across 42 states. A US jobs map can be found here.
Julie Blunden, executive vice president, public policy and corporate communications; Renée Robin, director of permitting, UPP Americas; and Kari Smith, director of regulatory affairs are E2 members. For more information about SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR), please visit www.sunpowercorp.com.
Knorr Brake Corp., which makes brakes and doors for rail cars, held a groundbreaking ceremony for expansion of its Westminster plant; currently employing 230 people, it expects to add 60 jobs by 2018.
Westminster, MD - Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-6)
Edison Mission Group announced that the $131 million Pinnacle Wind Farm is now delivering electricity; the 23 wind turbines will generate 55 MW, enough energy to power 14,000 homes.
Mineral County, WV - Sen. Joe Manchin (D), Sen. John Rockefeller (D), Rep. David McKinley (R-1)
Fiberight announced plans to build a $59.9 million advanced biofuels plant, producing 3.6mgy of cellulosic ethanol, by converting non-recyclable municipal solid waste and other industrial pulps; the USDA has conditionally approved a $25 million project loan.
Blairstown, IA - Sen. Charles Grassley (R), Sen. Thomas Harkin (D), Rep. Leonard Boswell, (D-3)
Montana State University-Northern announced a $647,748 grant to support the North Central Montana Renewable Industry Initiative to commercialize green technology and create new high-skill jobs; the initiative is expected to generate $90 million in private investment.
Havre, MT - Sen. Max Baucus (D), Sen. Jon Tester (D), Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R)
Element Power announced that its Black Fork Wind Farm received approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board; the 200 MW project will generate enough power for tens of thousands of homes; completion is planned for 2013.
Crawford, OH Richland, OH
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), Sen. Robert Portman (R), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-4)
First Wind announced approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for its proposed $360 million Oakfield Wind project; the 150 MW wind farm will produce enough energy to power over 48,000 homes.
Aroostook County, ME - Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Olympia Snowe (R), Rep. Michael Michaud (D-2)
Key Equipment Finance is building a 5.3MW solar project in West Windsor, NJ; the project will be leased by Princeton University and could eventually reduce CO2 emissions by 3,090 tons every year.
West Windsor, NJ - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), Sen. Robert Menendez (D), Rep. Rush Holt (D-12)
Green & Gold Careers for Veterans is a nonprofit organization enabling veterans to find clean energy jobs. More than 40 veterans have found jobs through the organization, which is now working on a new venture with Cisco Systems.
San Bruno, CA Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-12)
Other
Announced
NOTE: Each of these job numbers were culled from publicly available announcements of new clean energy ventures. "Status" is used to informally categorize the stage of development of a project, with "in operation" meaning a energy project that has gone live, or a manufacturing facility that is on line. "In Progress" is used for any project in construction or any program just starting, and "Announced" captures those projects in earlier stages of development. Inclusion in this newsletter is not an indication of E2 support for any individual project.
Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national community of business leaders who promote sound environmental policy that builds economic prosperity. E2 is the independent business voice for the environment. We provide a non-partisan resource for understanding the business perspective on environmental issues. Working with our public and private partners, E2 shapes state and national policy that's good for the economy and good the environment. www.E2.org
