In researching for my series on jobs in renewable energy in the U.S., I turned up some very interesting information. First, it’s clear that clean energy is creating jobs. In 2010, the solar industry created 50,00 jobs according to the first ever national solar jobs census that was conducted by The Solar Foundation, Green LMI, Cornell University and others. In total there are 93,000 people employed in the solar industry right now.
The geothermal industry, too, is ramping up hard. As a whole, the industry expects to add almost 3000 jobs next year. For the past year and a half or so geothermal project developers have been finding lands to lease, collecting permits, arranging financing and generally getting their ducks in a row so that the real work of developing geothermal energy projects could begin. Now, in 2011, it is set to start.
They hydro energy industry – the largest of the renewables – accounts for 200,000 to 300,000 workers right now and could grow to millions should the U.S. adopt a strong renewable electricity standard, according to Navigant Consulting.
renewableenergyworld
