Arizona ranks as top state in clean energy job offering for Q2

Aug 29, 2014 - Arizona was the number-one state in terms of clean energy and clean transportation jobs in April-June 2014 with 3,060 new positions announced by companies, officials and the media.

Yesterday, business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) published its “Clean Energy Works for US” report, counting total of 12,582 clean jobs announcements in the US over the past quarter. Most of the positions are in solar energy, wind energy and electric vehicles manufacturing. The second-quarter figure compares to only 5,600 job announcements in January-March 2014.

The second and third spots in the jobs-per-state ranking by E2 were occupied by California and Michigan with 2,512 and 1,450 announced clean jobs. Utah followed with 1,210 while Massachusetts was the top 5 state with around 700.

E2 pointed out that many of the job announcements in the quarter under review fill the kinds of positions that will support US states in their efforts to meet federal carbon pollution goals announced in June this year. Under the federal Clean Power Plan, the US aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30% on 2005 levels by 2030. Each state has been given the right to choose the most economically effective way of achieving its individual target.

In the report, E2 also stressed on the importance of long-term certainty around federal tax policies. “By failing to extend clean energy and energy efficiency tax incentives, Congress continues to subject the industry to market uncertainty, creating boom-and-bust investment cycles that result in sporadic employment for thousands of American workers,” the group said.

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