Reading Daily Kos last week, I found out that California and Texas ranked top in the country for number of clean-energy jobs. Industries vary from science to marketing, from engineering to financial planning, with very competitive salaries.
According to the Pew Charitable Trusts' study,
“…[the] clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007. There was a similar pattern at the state level, where job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia during the same period. The report also found that this promising sector is poised to expand significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions, and federal and state policy reforms.
America’s clean energy economy has grown despite a lack of sustained government support in the past decade. By 2007, more than 68,200 businesses across all 50 states and the District of Columbia accounted for about 770,000 jobs. ...
"The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth," said Lori Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States.”
Highlighting the economic benefits and opportunities within energy reform is crucial for any environmentally concerned coalition. As important as the environment is to you; business, profit, and economic growth is just as important to others, and when trying to convince them, it’s important to use messaging that highlights a common good for everyone: a more sustainable state, both environmentally and economically.
