By Staff
It's always exciting when a governor visits, but Gov. Jennifer Granholm's stop in Cassopolis Nov. 5 was especially so because of her uplifting message about Michigan being uniquely positioned to rebound by capitalizing on its "W" assets – wind, water, wood and even waste.
Thanks to K&M Machine-Fabricating, Cass County had the good fortune to be included as a stop on her cutting-edge cavalcade, a month-long trek which continues this week in Traverse City.
Just as Granholm wrapped up her first week on the road touting the job-creating potential of the alternative energy sector, along comes a timely report from the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).
ASES reports that by 2030, one out of four workers in the United States will be working in the renewable energy or energy-efficiency industries.
According to ASES, this is the nation's first comprehensive report on the size and growth of the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
The numbers represent great news for American workers.
This green-collar job report shows that these industries already generate 8.5 million jobs in the United States.
With appropriate public policy – renewable portfolio standards, renewable energy incentives, public education and research and development – that figure could grow to as many as 40 million jobs by 2030.
ASES said the 40 million jobs that could be created in energy and energy efficiency by 2030 are not just engineering-related, but also include millions of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, accounting and management.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries already generate almost $1 trillion in revenue in the U.S., contributing more than $150 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local levels.
Revenue from the energy efficiency sector – including from energy-efficient windows, appliances, insulation and recycling – is already larger than revenue from renewable energy, but the renewable-energy industry is growing much more rapidly.
Solar, wind, ethanol and fuel cells are likely to be some of the hottest growth areas.
The study will serve as a guide to national, state and local leaders eager to attract energy and energy efficiency businesses and to establish new manufacturing facilities and sales offices.