The Pew Charitable Trusts, based in Washington DC, released a study earlier this summer highlighting the growth of the clean energy economy in the United States over the past decade. According to the study, “Between 1998 and 2007, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent. By 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across all 50 states and the District of Columbia accounted for more than 770,000 jobs, despite a lack of sustained government support in the past decade.” In an age where the economic recovery is on most everyone’s mind, the findings from the Pew Trusts’ report corroborate the argument that clean energy provides an economic boost as well as the environmental benefit. In particular the study points to Oregon, currently suffering the fourth highest jobless rate in the country, as one state hoping to benefit from an explosion in green collar jobs. Oregon was also highlighted in a previous post that looked at NPR’s 10 part series on “Electricity in America” and the smart grid.
Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Environmental Group’s U.S. Global Warming campaign, said that “Oregon is one of the top three states in the country in terms of growing its clean-energy economy along with Colorado and Tennessee.” According to the Pew study, “Oregon had 19,000 clean-tech jobs in 2007, up 50% from 1998. About one of every 100 workers in Oregon works in the clean-tech industry, the largest percentage in the nation.” Late last month, The Wall Street Journal, ran a story on Oregon’s growing clean energy economy. The article points out “that the state’s [sustainability] efforts date to at least 2005.” Several Oregon businesses were profiled on 2nd Green Revolution throughout the month of June, especially those in Portland, which were featured in a series of posts on “The Natural Step.”
The Pew study includes an interactive map with information on businesses, venture capital funds, patents, and the number of jobs in the clean energy sector in all 50 states. In addition, eight companies were highlighted for the work they are doing.
- Project FROG
- Honeywell
- RecycleBank
- Gamesa
- Austin Energy
- Manko, Gold, Katcher, and Fox
- Mohr Davidow Ventures
- Johnson Controls
[image source: PewGlobalWarming.org]
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