California’s booming clean energy industry currently employs nearly 450,000 people and is tipped to reach the half million mark within a year, according to a first-of-its-kind survey of America’s advanced energy sector.
The current number is more than the film, TV, radio, semiconductors and aerospace industries.
The survey, released by the Advanced Energy Economy Institute, found that 431,000 Californians (2.4 per cent of the state’s workforce) are involved in servicing advanced energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, electric vehicles and energy efficiency.
Advanced energy jobs grew five per cent in the past year – more than double the overall state job growth rate – and based on employer hiring plans is on track to grow 17 per cent in the coming year
Ambitious climate goals and a pro-active approach to supporting a zero-carbon future had contributed to situation says Kish Rajan, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
“The AEE Institute’s report is further proof that California’s economy is thriving – not in spite of our climate change goals but because of them. California is the national leader in the advanced energy economy and that leadership is contributing to significant job growth across multiple sectors in every region of the state.”
While the past year had seen a spike in the growth of jobs in the solar energy sector, with 73,000 people working full or part time in the industry, up 16 per cent from 2013, building energy efficiency is by far California’s biggest clean energy employer. More than 300,000 people are employed in ensuring the state’s strict energy conservation and efficiency codes are met.
“Making California more energy efficient saves money for businesses and households and protects the environment,” said California State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins. “It is also an important contributor to jobs and the economy – truly a win-win for the state of California.”
The majority of advanced energy employment is concentrated in Southern California, with a high concentration of workers (3.8 per cent of all jobs) centred inland around large-scale renewable energy projects such as the 350 megawatt Soda Mountain Solar Project and 615 MW San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm.
State politicians welcomed the survey as proof that supporting renewables is also good for business.
“With double the job growth rate of the state and three times that of the nation, advanced energy is a major player in job creation in California,” said California Senate President Kevin de León. “This survey demonstrates that policy supporting advanced energy is not just good for California’s environment but is also good for jobs and our economy.”
The full California Advanced Energy Survey report can be downloaded here.
