Clean Green Jobs: Embracing the New Energy Era

“There’s no doubt about it: We are in a global clean energy race” said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in a recent address to the 2011 Solar Decathlon winners.

As Secretary Chu explained, consumer demand for clean energy technology is driving a trillion dollar market that is only expected to grow.  By 2050, solar power could generate more than 20 percent of the world’s electricity, and “America can – and should – lead the clean energy revolution and capture the jobs it will create.”

Despite some recent debate regarding the state of green job growth in the United States, clean energy deployment is already producing economic and environmental improvements.  Furthermore, the “Clean Energy Economy” is growing:

• The Solar Energy Industries Association reports solar energy is the fastest growing energy technology in the United States.  In 2010 the United States had a total of 2,593 megawatts of installed solar electric capacity, and the solar industry was employing 93,000 workers.  While the pace of installation declined slightly in 2011, quarterly reports suggest U.S. markets are continuing to expand.

• The American Wind Energy Association assesses that there are 42,432 megawatts of wind capacity installations in the United States, and over 400 manufacturing facilities making wind turbine components.  The Congressional Research Service reports that wind turbine manufacturing industries directly and indirectly employed an estimated 75,000 Americans in 2010, with the U.S. wind turbine market growing from $2.7 billion in 2005 to $12.5 billion in 2009.

• Meanwhile, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reports that advances in geothermal technology are increasing generation capacity and reducing costs of new geothermal power plants.  According to the Department of Energy, America’s geothermal industry already employs an estimated 25,000 workers.  The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there could be as much as 16,500 megawatts of untapped geothermal capacity, the equivalent of dozens of coal-fired power plants, in the United States.

While clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives are already in place, stimulating markets and reducing emissions across the United States, if this is an energy race, we cannot afford to shortchange these growing industries or undermine existing inertia.  In 2010 the Pew Charitable Trust reported that “there are reasons to be concerned about America’s competitive position in the clean energy marketplace,” with U.S. clean energy finance lagging behind that of other G-20 nations and the stalling of national renewable energy policy and climate regulation at the national level.

Nevertheless, the Pew report emphasizes that the United States’ “entrepreneurial traditions and strengths in innovation – especially its leadership in venture capital investing—are considerable, giving it the potential to recoup leadership and market share in the future,” especially if policy mechanisms support clean energy investment. The bottom line is that the new energy era supports job creation and resource security. Our energy policy should do the same.

Energy investment policies have come under increased polical scrutiny due to the scandal surrounding the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a California solar-panel company that received $535 million in loan guarantees. The Washington Post, however, refutes the proposition that this Solyndra’s failure undermines the importance – or success – of renewable energy funding programs. The Post highlights how the 2005 bipartisan Department of Energy’s energy loan guarantee program has funded 40 projects nationally—Solyndra represents only 1.3% of this portfolio, and is the only unsuccessful project. The Department of Energy reports its energy loan projects have created 64,776 jobs nationally.

It can be difficult to fully quantify the successes of the renewable energy economy, however, existing information supports the proposition: clean energy is growing green jobs across the United States. To remain internationally competitive and benefit from the global growth of the renewable energy sector, it is critical that federal, state, and local policies continue to support job creation and energy security. Through efficiency investments and green technological innovation, we must continue to embrace the New Energy Era.  Now is the time to do what we can to secure our clean energy future.