Green jobs steam ahead in US, says report

Clean energy economy jobs in the US grew by 9.1 per cent between 1998 and 2007, compared to an overall job growth rate of just 3.7 per cent, according to a report from the Pew Charitable Trust.

The report defines a clean energy economy as generating jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.

Some states fared better than others in the clean energy job stakes. Idaho was the quickest-growing clean energy hotspot, with a 126.1 per cent growth in clean jobs between 1998 and 2007, compared to a 13.8 per cent growth in overall jobs.

Nebraska and South Dakota came second and third. Nebraska did particularly well, with a 108.6 per cent growth rate in clean jobs, given that its overall job numbers fell by 4.9 per cent during that period.

At the other end of the scale, Utah slouched in last with a 9.4 per cent drop in clean job numbers during that period, even as its overall job numbers grew by 10.8 per cent. Other states in which clean jobs shrank were Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The report identified a "lack of sustained policy and development" in the clean energy economy, but said that venture capital had played a huge role in kick-starting the movement.

Venture funding for this sector passed the $1bn (£610m) mark in 2005, and totalled more than $12bn in the past three years, it said, even though the recession has decreased funding recently.

It added that more recent moves to stimulate the clean energy economy using tools such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 were likely to create a significant increase in this growing sector.

"Pew's analysis indicates such policies have great potential because they create significant incentives for the private and public sector to develop new technologies, infrastructure and processes for clean energy, efficiency and conservation," said the report.