Indiana's clean energy sector is being helped in part by the growing number of windmill farms in the state.

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS – Jobs in Indiana’s clean energy economy grew 17.9 percent while overall jobs declined 1 percent in the state between 1998 and 2007, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts in the most detailed look yet at this sector. In The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, Pew developed a clear, data-driven definition of the clean energy economy and conducted the first-ever hard count across all 50 states of the actual jobs, companies and venture capital investments that supply the growing market demand for environmentally friendly products and services.

Indiana was part of a national trend that saw job growth in the clean energy economy outperforming overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia over the same period. Nationally, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a rate of 9.1 percent while total jobs grew by only 3.7 percent, between 1998 and 2007.

“While Indiana has been hit hard by job losses overall, the state’s clean energy sector grew by nearly 18 percent between 1998 and 2007,” said Jodi Gibson, Indiana representative for the Pew Environment Group. “Jobs in renewable energy and energy storage and transmission have helped drive the growth in Indiana’s clean energy economy. In fact, Hoosiers are a dominant force in wind power, with the fastest growth in wind power generation nationwide in 2008.”

Indiana clean energy economy business leaders hailed the study.

“NuVant Systems is proud to be a part of Indiana's clean energy economy, which is here today," said Eugene Smotkin, founder of NuVant. "Our business has continued to grow despite the recession, while developing cost effective, innovative technologies that will assist fuel cell manufacturers in bringing fuel cells to market, and fuel cell researchers in rapidly improving fuel cell materials.”

In 2007, there were nearly 17,300 jobs in Indiana’s clean energy economy. Unlike previous studies of the so-called “green economy,” Pew’s numbers are a hard count of actual jobs, businesses and investments and do not rely on estimates, multipliers or projections. The report finds that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds. Included in Pew’s definition are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

The private sector views the clean energy economy as a significant and expanding market opportunity. Venture capital investment in clean technology in Indiana totaled $26 million over the past three years.

Federal and state lawmakers, too, see the sector as helping to spur America’s economic recovery and protect the environment. Indiana’s clean energy economy will receive a boost from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allocates nearly $85 billion nationwide in direct spending and tax incentives for energy- and transportation-related programs. Indiana also provides financial incentives for clean energy.

Pew’s definition of the clean energy economy is based on previous research and input from nationally recognized environmental scientists and economists, including an advisory panel convened to help guide the study. According to Pew, “a clean energy economy generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.” It comprises five categories:

(1) Clean Energy, (2) Energy Efficiency, (3) Environmentally Friendly Production, (4) Conservation and Pollution Mitigation, and (5) Training and Support. The definition provides a groundbreaking framework for tracking jobs, investments and economic growth over time and allowing the public and private sector to evaluate the effectiveness of policy choices and investments.

“There is bipartisan support and a growing market demand for transitioning to the clean energy economy,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director, U.S. Global Warming Campaign, at the Pew Environment Group. “Americans understand the transition is good for the overall economy, is creating new opportunities for jobs and business growth, and helps protect our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Congress and the Obama Administration can and must produce energy and global warming legislation that creates jobs, enhances energy independence and sustains our environment.”

The complete study is available online at www.pewtrusts.org/cleanenergyeconomy.

ABOUT NUVANT SYSTEMS

NuVant Systems was founded in 1999 by Eugene Smotkin while a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The company develops components for fuel cells and designs instruments to test and validate candidate components. Professor Smotkin, now an ORISE Fellow at the National Energy Technology Laboratory and a professor of chemistry at Northeastern University, is collaborating with NuVant in the development of Renewable Energy Learning Modules for educational institutions.

ABOUT THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.

Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts