News from Clean Energy Now
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Michigan Ranks Ninth Nationally for Solar Job Creation
Advocates
say stronger renewables policies would produce even more jobs and make
state a world leader in clean-energy manufacturing
LANSING - Members of the Clean Energy Now (CEN) coalition are applauding a report that shows Michigan ranks 9th in creating new clean energy jobs related to the solar industry.
The
report comes from The Solar Foundation (TSF), which also released its
State Solar Jobs Map, a web-based tool providing the first-ever solar
jobs number for every state in the country (www.solarstates.org).
The report shows that, as of late last year, the U.S. solar industry
employed 119,016 Americans. The figure represents a 13.2-percent
increase in employment over 2011. During the same time, employment in
the overall economy grew only 2.3 percent.
Clean
energy advocates are urging policymakers to help accelerate the state’s
transition away from power generated by aging, dirty coal plants to
energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources like wind and
solar. Wind power and energy efficiency are now cheaper ways to meet
demand than building new coal or gas-fired plants.
Meanwhile,
solar manufacturing and installation prices are falling sharply, and
already are a bargain for utilities on hot days, when they must purchase
“peak” power far more expensive than solar to meet ramped-up demand.
The advocates also say efficiency, wind, and solar create good-paying, non-exportable jobs.
"Energy
efficiency and clean energy are just the shot in the arm Michigan’s
economy needs, and we’re thrilled to have still more statistics proving
it," said Jim Dulzo with the Michigan Land Use Institute. "By
investing in fuel-free options like efficiency, wind and solar, we can
rein in the energy price increases we’re seeing, and expand our state’s
clean energy manufacturing base. With good state policies, Michigan
would quickly become a global renewables manufacturing powerhouse, while
cutting harmful, climate-changing emissions. This win-win protects
Michigan’s families, their pocketbooks, and natural resources."
Clean
energy advocates are encouraging the public to speak out in support of
clean energy, and have the opportunity to do so at Governor Snyder’s
final energy forum in Traverse City on April 22nd. For more
information, you can go here xx.
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About
Clean Energy Now: CEN is a coalition of groups that supports policies
that will move Michigan beyond coal power toward greater use of
renewable energy sources and energy efficiency as a way to protect the
environment and build prosperity. Follow the campaign at CleanEnergyNowMI.org.