Report: 38,600 Clean Energy, Transportation Jobs Announced In Q2; New Web Site Tracks Job Growth By State, Sector

Top 10 States for Clean Energy Job Announcements in Q2 2013:  Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Texas

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Companies and communities across the United States announced at least 58 clean energy and clean transportation projects in the second quarter of 2013 that could create as many as 38,600 jobs, according to a report released today by the nonprofit business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2).

Just in time for Labor Day, the growth in solar, wind, biofuel, energy efficiency and smart transportation jobs are detailed on a new Web site that is the most comprehensive compilation of clean energy jobs information of its kind: Clean Energy Works for US (www.cleanenergyworksforus.org).

Cleanenergyworksforus.org includes more than 500 clean energy and clean transportation job announcements taken from company announcements, media reports and other sources that E2 has tracked since September 2011. The site also includes more than 50 stories, 20 videos and state-specific statistics that put a face on clean energy job growth in America.

"With Labor Day upon us and the country focused on jobs and the economy, clean energy and clean transportation projects continue to create jobs and drive economic growth from one end of the country to the other," said E2 Executive Director Judith Albert.

The Q2 2013 clean jobs total number is slightly higher than the 37,400 jobs that E2 tracked in the comparable quarter in 2012. For the first time, both Hawaii and Alaska ranked in the top 10 states to announce clean energy projects in the second quarter of 2013.

Two newcomers were among the top five states for clean energy jobs announcements in the second quarter. Hawaii ranked second in total clean energy and clean transportation jobs announced, while Maryland came in third place with the announcement of a $2.6 billion, 20-station, and 14-mile expansion to the Baltimore light-rail system's Red Line. The project will reduce carbon pollution as well as traffic, and will require more than 4,200 construction workers to lay new tracks and build new stations by 2021.

In another first for a quarterly E2 report, Kansas and Missouri each made the Top 10 list of states to announce clean energy projects. Leading the way, Clean Line Energy Partners LLC announced the "Grain Belt Express Clean Line" transmission line upgrade project that will transmit more than 3,500 megawatts of wind energy from Kansas and Missouri to other states. The $2 billion project is scheduled for completion by 2018 and is expected to create 5,500 jobs to plan, construct and manage the new line.

California again ranked No.1 in total job announcements. The state led the way with 12 clean energy and clean transportation projects that could cumulatively create more than 9,000 jobs.

The full Q2 clean energy jobs report is available at www.cleanenergyworksforus.org.

"Clean energy jobs are alive, well and growing," Albert said. "Smart policies like renewable energy standards at the state level, coupled with federal policies like President Obama's climate change initiative, promise to keep that growth going."

Other highlights from E2's latest report:

• Solar generation projects accounted for more than 10,400 jobs announced in Q2. Solar jobs grew nationwide, from California to North Carolina.
• Clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced in both Republican and Democratic congressional districts across the country in the second quarter.
• In Hawaii, a project to improve energy efficiency at government buildings will reduce the state's energy expenses while creating an estimated 5,000 jobs. In Alaska, a weatherization project sponsored by the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. is projected to create more than 600 jobs.
• In Indiana's 6th congressional district, represented by Luke Messer (R), nearly 300 jobs could be created in Muncie by DD Dannar LLC, which is building a new type of hybrid-powered heavy-duty vehicle.
• In Nevada's 3rd congressional district, represented by Joseph Heck (R), a new battery plant opened by the company K2 is expected to add 200 jobs in Henderson; while a new 350- MW solar-photovoltaic generation plant capable of powering 105,000 homes will create as many as 370 construction, operation and maintenance jobs.

ABOUT E2

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national community of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity. Learn more at www.e2.org.

SOURCE Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), Washington, D.C.