Clean Energy Trust: Report: 26,382 jobs in Wisconsin show growing boom

Pat Mitchell, pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com703-276-3266

MADISON, WI (Sept 7, 2017): The number of people now working in clean energy industries throughout the Wisconsin is 26,382, a nearly 7 percent increase since 2015, according to an analysis released today by Clean Energy Trust (CET) and the national nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Job growth across sectors including renewable energy generation, advanced grid, energy efficiency, clean fuels, and advanced transportation is occurring almost six times faster than overall job growth in the state.

The analysis – available at www.CleanJobsMidwest.com – is based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and a comprehensive survey of thousands of businesses across the region conducted by BW Research Partners. The Clean Jobs Midwest report provides detailed breakdowns of clean energy jobs – including job totals for every county, congressional district, and state legislative district in the 12-state Midwest region of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. There are a total of 599,775 employed in clean energy in the entire region.

Wisconsin’s clean energy workforce employs almost five times as many people than all the computer programmers in the state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The Midwest has witnessed declining manufacturing employment over the years and this report highlights the important role of clean energy jobs in filling the gap for the region’s workforce,” said Erik G. Birkerts, CEO of Clean Energy Trust. “We’re optimistic that this growth engine can continue unabated as the Midwest continues to prove it is a fertile region for clean energy innovation, enabling businesses to launch, grow and create jobs.” 

“States are leading the clean energy revolution in America,” said Bob Keefe, E2’s Executive Director. “The Midwest has quickly become a clean energy job hub, with every state seeing job growth. This is the result of pioneering businesses aided in part by smart state and federal policies. We need more policymakers to incent clean energy development to ensure America doesn’t fall behind global competitors.”

“Wisconsin’s clean energy workers make up an important and growing sector of our economy,” said Tyler Huebner, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. “With renewable energy costs declining to historic levels, Wisconsin businesses stand ready to develop significantly more renewable energy projects in state, and to manufacture products and deliver services across the Midwest and the nation to enable the broader transition to clean power.”

The CET/E2 report includes clean energy sector comparisons for each state across the Midwest region. Energy efficiency continues to be the largest energy employer in Wisconsin, accounting for 18,404 jobs including hardware and software implementers, people working on high efficiency heating and cooling systems, and system technicians. The biggest job growth occurred in the renewable energy sector. Jobs in wind, solar, geothermal, bioenergy, and low-impact hydroelectric power grew by more than almost 14 percent in the past year. There are 4,207 solar workers in the state, 666 workers employed in wind generation and 262 in geothermal.

For the state of Wisconsin, the report also found:

  • 999 clean energy workers are employed in the advanced transportation industry. This includes hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles, alternative fuels vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.
  • Almost 46 percent of all clean energy jobs were in construction—12,098 jobs.  Manufacturing accounted for 8,885 more jobs—almost 34 percent of all clean energy jobs.
  • The clean fuels and advanced grid sectors employ 340 and 185 workers respectively.

2016 Department of Energy data shows that there are more than 3 million clean energy workers across the country. For a fact sheet outlining more specifics about the national clean energy jobs landscape, view E2’s fact sheet.

 

The report includes an interactive map and profiles of Midwestern clean energy workers.

###

Clean Energy Trust partners with innovators to bring scientific and technological advancements to market that change how the world generates, consumes and reuses energy and natural resources. We make direct investments, provide mentorship, offer venture development services and work to strengthen the Midwest innovation ecosystem. For more information, see www.cleanenergytrust.org or follow us on Twitter at @cleanenergytrst

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.