Energy Fact Check: Get the Facts!
 

Energy Fact Check: Get the Facts!

by Alyssa Cauble

Energy Fact Check: Get the Facts!

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) has created a neat new online resource to debunk common clean energy myths and misinformation. EnergyFactCheck.org is designed to inform and correct the facts on the thriving and growing clean energy industry.  The site covers a broad range of topics, such as key statistics cost estimates, deployment of clean energy solutions, investment in clean energy, job and employment figures and energy’s impact on national security.  

Here's one we've all heard: Clean and renewable energy doesn’t support many American jobs.

FACT: There are at least a million clean energy jobs in the United States, from hard hats and lab coats to engineers and installers. The sector is a strong and growing contributor to America’s economy.

  1. In the first three months of 2012 alone, there were more than 46,000 new jobs associated with new clean energy projects. (Source: Environmental Entrepreneurs, http://bit.ly/I8Biol)
  2. The U.S. wind industry employs more than 75,000 people. (Source: American Wind Energy Association, http://bit.ly/HF4YIn)
  3. The U.S. solar industry employs more than 100,000 Americans. (Source: Solar Foundation, http://bit.ly/qvk7fH)
  4. More than 400,000 people work in the U.S. biofuels industry. (Source: Renewable Fuels Association, http://bit.ly/emXMPh)
  5. There are at least 200,000 people working in the U.S. hydropower industry. (Source: Navigant Consulting, http://bit.ly/L6oA8M)
  6. 25,000 Americans work in the U.S. geothermal energy industry. (Source: TechNewsWorld, http://bit.ly/K47oFS)
  7. 155,000 Americans were employed by suppliers of clean and efficient vehicle components in 2011. (Source: NRDC/NWF/UAW, http://bit.ly/q0i8kI)
  8. The U.S. biomass industry supports more than 15,000 jobs, with many of those jobs based in rural areas. (Source: Biomass Power Association, http://bit.ly/Lv6ZYs)
  9. The growing green building sector supports 661,000 jobs – one-third of the U.S. design and construction workforce. (Source: McGraw Hill, http://bit.ly/M2ayEp)
  10. The clean energy sector employs more than 71,000 workers at nearly 5,000 companies across the state.
  11. 37,400 new clean energy jobs have been announced in the second quarter.
  12. Top 10 clean job states : California, Florida, and New York landed the most energy jobs in the second quarter. Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Nebraska and Mississippi rounded out biggest-gaining states.
  13.  12 wind generation projects are poised to create roughly 2,300 new jobs.

Content contributors to the site include highly reputable organizations Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the US Partnership for Renewable Energy Finance, the Vote Solar Initiative, and Third Way.  The website is updated daily and also has an active Twitter feed at @EnergyFactCheck.  It’s also a great resource for contact information for industry experts, explanatory infographics and videos, upcoming conferences and events as well.  Check it out at www.energyfactcheck.org !