Pew Study Finds Clean Energy Economy Poised For Growth

        A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts, "The Clean Energy Economy:Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America," found that the clean energy economy has tremendous potential for growth. In part, this will be spurred by investments from both the government and private sector, as well as state and federal policy makers who are increasingly calling for reforms to drive economic renewal and sustain the environment. Pew's research indicates that public policies "have great potential because they create significant incentives for both the private and public sectors to develop new technologies, infrastructure and processes for clean energy, efficiency and conservation."
       For the purpose of this study, Pew defines a clean energy economy as one which "generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources." The clean energy economy cuts across five categories:
       * Clean Energy;
       * Energy Efficiency;
       * Environmentally Friendly Production;
       * Conservation and Pollution Mitigation; and,
       * Training and Support.
       The data show that by 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across all 50 states and the District of Columbia accounted for 770,000 jobs that
achieve the double bottom line of economic growth and environmental sustainability. The research also shows that between 1998 and 2007, clean energy economy jobs, i.e., a mix of white- and blue-collar positions, from scientists and engineers to electricians, machinists and teachers, grew by 9.1 percent, while total jobs grew by only 3.7 percent.
       Sixty-five percent of today's clean energy economy jobs fall into the category of Conservation and Pollution Mitigation. However, almost 80
percent of venture capital investments in 2008 were in the sectors of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency. The flow of venture capital indicates which sectors are the most attractive to investors and have the greatest growth potential.
       The 61-page report may be read at: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedfiles/clean_economy_report_web.pdf.
       State fact sheets:http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Fact_Sheets/Clean_Economy_AllFactsheets.pdf
IA: p. 16 "Iowa has a small but fast-growing piece of America's clean energy economy.The Hawkeye State's jobs in the clean energy economy grew from just more than 6,000 in 1998 to more than 7,700 in 2007, a much faster growth rate than that of the state's total jobs."
KS: p. 17 "While Kansas has a small piece of America's clean energy economy, its jobs in this sector are growing at one of the fastest rates in the country—and much faster than its total jobs."
MO: p. 26 "Missouri has a small but growing piece of America's clean energy economy. Jobs in its clean energy economy grew more quickly than total jobs in the state between 1998 and 2007."
NE: p. 28 "Nebraska has a small but fast-growing piece of the clean energy economy. It is one of seven states and the District of Columbia where total jobs declined but jobs in the clean energy economy increased between 1998 and 2007."
        Additional information is available at: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=52696