Clean Energy Jobs: Good for us and teenagers too

When a teenager starts thinking that a summer job working indoors for a "green" cement company is a better option than being outside giving boating lessons on the local lake, then you know you may be on to something. Yet another lively mind, lured by the siren's promise of a clean energy job.

As someone who's gone completely overboard myself, enamored of the "doing something right for our planet" aspects of CleanTech, practical uses, and all the really cool science and technology innovations the industry comes up with, I'm not surprised by UC Berkeley's claim that clean energy grows the economy faster than traditional sources.

In a nutshell, the report titled "Energy Pathways for the California Economy" finds that "relying on renewable sources for 50 percent of California's electric power, combined with increasing energy efficiency by 1.5 percent a year will generate half a million new jobs with over $100 billion in cumulative payrolls over the next 40 years, according to the study." Not bad for one state in one country. And the 1.5% annual growth fits the "20% renewables by 2020" goals set by the EU and China (15-25% by 2020 is being bantered around in US congress but not finalized).

Actually, I think the report is a bit conservative. Either way, the details on the report's findings are good reading for those in the industry or those considering a move and those fighting skeptics. For example, the study found that:

• A dollar saved on traditional energy is a dollar earned by 10-100 times as many new workers.
• Renewable fuel generation is more job intensive and less price volatile than traditional carbon fuel supplies.
• Employment creation outweighs employment reduction in every scenario.
• Over the time period considered (2008-2050), the clean energy industry increases in-state employment to about half the size of California's biotech sector, but up to twice as many additional jobs are created in upstream and downstream sectors.
• The most ambitious scenario (50 percent renewable fuels; 1.5 percent efficiency increase) produces the greatest number of net new jobs and largest payroll dividend -- generating half a million additional jobs with over $100 billion in cumulative payrolls over 40 years.
• Compared to renewable deployment alone (RPS 50), integrating energy efficiency measures increases statewide job benefits almost tenfold. Employment gains are more widespread, particularly in construction and services, with the former responding to new building standards and the latter benefiting from household expenditure diversion.
• Renewable energy generates jobs with relatively high wages and obvious new technology appeal. Even when a significant portion of green tech manufacturing is outsourced (25 percent of value is assumed), California still captures significant employment and payroll benefits from greater renewable deployment.
• Finally, household energy efficiency savings translate, via expenditure shifting, into even greater income growth for consumer sectors, including more diverse, bedrock, in-state employment in food, services, etc. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced.

All in all, great news. Now if I could only get the teenager to consistently sort her trash from recycling - and take it out to the bin once in a while - life would be really good...