|
Energy in the NewsThe News & Observer - 2009-06-16
Green jobs growing swiftly (new window)North Carolina created "clean-energy economy" jobs at more than twice its overall job-growth rate from 1998 to 2007, reports a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew says its nationwide study is the most detailed of its kind, counting actual jobs rather than relying on estimates. It defines clean-energy jobs as those that help produce energy, use it more efficiently, reduce greenhouse gases and pollution or conserve water and other resources. However, that does not include nuclear power. In the decade studied, North Carolina's number of clean-energy jobs grew 15.3 percent, to about 17,000, compared with 6.4 percent for all jobs, the study found. That growth rate ranked 21st highest nationally. Nationwide, such jobs -- including engineers, construction workers and teachers --grew 9.1 percent while all jobs rose 3.7 percent. "Clean energy is job-creating opportunities for our nation," U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, a North Carolina Democrat, said in a conference call about the report. "We don't know the opportunities that will be available with new ideas. We're Americans, the most creative, innovative entrepreneurs in the world." Clean-jobs growth has occurred without consistent regulatory support, Pew said. "All the states that grew were responding directly to consumer demand," said lead researcher Kil Huh. North Carolina is poised for more growth if state policies support it, said Joel Olsen of Charlotte solar-panel maker Sencera. Olsen noted that the state has twice the sunlight of Germany, a world leader in solar installations. Gov. Beverly Perdue last month announced more details of her plan to create green jobs in the state during a speech at a solar-panel farm at Cary software company SAS. Some of those plans will use federal stimulus money. President Barack Obama also has made green jobs a top priority as he seeks ways to spur economic recovery. State Sen. Josh Stein, a Wake County Democrat, said he and other legislators are pushing measures to promote clean-energy jobs. Among them: extending renewable-energy tax credits, financing "smart grid" development and expanding energy-saving contracts by state government. |