Top 10 States: Calif, Texas., Fla., N.Y., Mich., Ill., Mass., Ohio., N.C., Va.
- Energy efficiency added the most new jobs in 2017 across all energy sectors
- More Americans now work in clean energy than in agriculture, real estate, investment banking, and the media and entertainment industries – combined.
- Growth in energy efficiency, battery storage and other sectors offset temporary declines in employment in solar, clean vehicles
Washington, DC – Nearly 3.2 million Americans now work in clean energy in every state in the country, according to a new analysis of energy jobs data by the national nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs).
Overall clean energy jobs grew slightly to 3,177,000 at the end of last year, despite increased market uncertainty from unprecedented federal rollbacks of clean energy policies planned or recently executed by the Trump administration.
Still, jobs in two sectors – solar and clean vehicles – declined sharply last year, in part due to maturity in some solar markets, changes in tax policy, and anticipation of the administration’s tariffs on solar panels and proposed rollbacks to federal auto mileage and emissions standards.
Solar jobs fell by more than 26,000 jobs last year to about 350,000 jobs, while manufacturing and other jobs related to clean vehicles – including hybrids, electric and natural gas vehicles – declined by 39,000 jobs to 259,000 jobs.
The analysis expands on data from the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) released earlier today by former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz’s Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). E2 is a partner on the USEER, the third installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016 and subsequently abandoned under the Trump administration.
“What the numbers show is that clean jobs count in America,” said Bob Keefe, E2 executive director. “The clean energy industry is big, growing – and unfortunately under threat. The Trump administration’s policy decisions are already hurting what have been some of the fastest-growing job sectors in America in recent years.”
E2 recently launched a major national campaign, Clean Jobs Count to raise awareness of the economic and jobs benefits of clean energy in America
According to E2’s Clean Jobs in America factsheet, energy efficiency added the most new jobs in 2017 of any energy industry, accounting for half (67,000) of the sector’s total job increase (133,000). Energy efficiency’s dominance in clean energy employment continues to be driven by construction (1.3 million), and energy efficiency-related jobs now make up 1 out of every 6 US construction jobs.
Wind energy employment grew by 5.6 percent; energy storage grew by 5.5 percent and energy efficiency grew by 3.1 percent, helping offset the losses in solar and clean vehicles.
Traditionally strong clean energy states dominated the job rankings for 2017, with nine states now topping the 100,000-job mark for clean energy employment. According to the report, more workers are now employed in clean energy than by the fossil fuel industry in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
Despite a 6 percent drop in jobs in 2017 (its first drop since jobs were first counted in 2010), the solar energy sector still employed more workers in power generation than the entire fossil fuel industry. Two-thirds of solar job losses occurred in states with maturing solar markets (Calif. and Mass.) while 29 other states saw strong increases in solar energy jobs. After more than a year of uncertainty from tariffs, tax incentives, and federal cuts, U.S. solar employers are projecting 5 percent jobs growth in 2018.
Other key findings:
- Solar alone still employs nearly 4 times the number of coal generation workers
- One out of every five workers in solar and wind were Hispanic or Latino
- There are now as many Americans working in clean energy as there are school teachers
- Jobs in battery storage jumped 12 percent (6,000) to reach 53,000 in 2017
To speak with E2 members and business leaders who support strong investments in clean energy and their impact on America’s economy, please contact Michael Timberlake at (202) 289-2407.
More information about E2’s clean energy jobs research can be found at www.e2.org/reports.
Additional Resources:
- E2: Clean Jobs America 2018
- NASEO/EFI: 2018 USEER Report
- E2: Clean Jobs Rural America
- E2 & Clean Energy Trust: Clean Jobs Midwest
- Clean Jobs Count: Clean Jobs Count Pledge
- Department of Labor: Projected fastest growing jobs 2016-2026
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Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.