Green Jobs Growing in U.S., Kentucky

Kentucky had more than 9,000 "clean energy jobs" in 2007, a new report by the Pew Charitable Trust found.  Kentucky also had a clean energy job growth rate nearly triple the overall state job rate growth rate for the 10-year period 1998-2007.

Pew said it counted actual jobs rather than making estimates — from companies and investments aimed at developing clean, renewable sources of energy, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, and conserving water and other natural resources.

Pew used fairly strict criteria for counting the number of clean energy jobs: 1) it developed a stringent definition of the clean energy economy, 2) used a labor-intensive methodology that counted only companies that could be verified online as being actively engaged in the clean energy economy, and 3) counted only companies and jobs on the supply side, not the demand side, of the clean energy economy.

"We found that jobs and businesses in the emerging clean energy economy have grown at a faster rate than U.S. jobs overall," the report stated. "And they are poised for even greater growth, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions by investors eager to capitalize on new market opportunities, and policy reforms by federal and state lawmakers seeking to spur America’s fiscal recovery, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect the environment.

During the study period, Kentucky's clean energy growth rate was 10% compared to 3.6% for our overall job growth rate. Both these figures are fairly close to national averages, though the clean energy jobs growth rate varied dramatically from state to state (especially high in some midwestern states).

The actual number of clean energy jobs in Kentucky in 2007 was 9,308.

While Kentucky's job numbers stacked up to national averages, of the $12.5 billion in venture capital investment in clean energy during this period, 0 of that investment was in Kentucky.

Kentucky's clean energy economy should continue to grow. Since the 2007 ending date of the Pew study, Kentucky has passed legislation that provides resources for energy efficiency improvements at publicly owned building, has established a public-private consortium to research new battery technology, has new renewable energy centers at the University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University, and is spendings most of the $120 million in federal stimulus funds designated for energy on weatherization and efficiency projects. There are many private efforts underway as well.

You can read more or download the report here.