E2 Report Ranks America’s Top 50 Cities for Clean Energy Jobs

• 8 million Americans work in clean energy in the Top 50 clean energy metros; representing 58 Percent of country’s 3.2 million clean energy jobs
• 7 states are home to at least Top 50 cities for clean energy jobs, led by California (8) and Texas (4)
• Ranking released as 25,000 Americans sign Clean Jobs Count pledge telling lawmakers to prioritize clean energy jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a National Clean Energy Week event, E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) released a first-of-its kind ranking of top cities for clean energy jobs.

According to Clean Jobs Cities, the top 50 metros with clean energy jobs employ more than 1.8 million Americans – accounting for more than one out of every two clean energy jobs in the country. In fact, the top 16 metros account for more than 1.15 million jobs, which alone outnumber the entire U.S. fossil fuel industry.

“Cities are seeing the benefits of shifting to clean energy, with jobs and economic growth,” said Bob Keefe, E2 executive director. “These are good jobs in energy efficiency, construction, manufacturing, renewable energy and clean fuels and vechicles. And they shouldn’t be ignored by lawmakers as they’re considering state and federal energy policies.”

In addition to releasing the Clean Jobs Cities report, E2 delivered to members of Congress its Clean Jobs Count pledge, signed by 25,000 E2 members, supporters and others who want more clean energy jobs and the policies that advance them.

“Wherever we’ve gone with our Clean Jobs Count campaign – whether it’s Virginia or Illinois or Nevada – Americans say the same thing over and over: They want more clean energy, and the jobs that come with it,” said Gail Parson, E2’s director of member and state engagement. “No matter where we go, we hear that Clean Jobs Count.”

Dave Belote, CEO of Virgina Beach-based renewable energy consulting firm Dare Strategies said clean energy jobs are more important than ever to coastal economies like his, which ranked #34 in the Clean Jobs Cities Top 50:

“I’m from a coastal community that has been slow to recover from the recession. At the same time, it is threatened by recurrent flooding and sea level rise. With an incredible deep water port and well-trained, veteran-heavy workforce, we have a chance to create a hub for an Atlantic offshore wind industry that will diversify and improve the regional economy while slowing or reversing climate change. From a jobs standpoint, what could be more important?”

According to the first-of-its-kind Clean Jobs Cities report,  33 states and District of Columbia are home to metro areas ranked in Top 50 places for clean energy jobs. Every metro area in the Top 50 employs at least 10,000 clean energy workers. Seven states, led by California with eight and Texas with four, are home to three or more metro areas in the Top 50.

Other key findings:

• Clean Jobs Cities Top 50 metros account for 58% of U.S. clean energy jobs, Top 10 account for over 880,000.
• 11 Midwest cities are represented, accounting for 343,000 jobs
• California metros ranked in the Top 50 accounted for nearly 430,000 jobs
• Top metros in Northeast states accounted for 436,000 jobs
• 13 metros in the South made the Top 50, accounting for 293,000 jobs

The report follows E2’s Clean Jobs America analysis which found the clean energy jobs account for nearly 3.2 million jobs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both reports expand on the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) released in May by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and Energy Futures Initative. E2 was a partner in the USEER report.

To speak with business leaders across America who support strong investments in clean energy and their impact on America’s economy, please contact Michael Timberlake at (202) 289-2407.

More information about E2’s clean energy jobs research can be found at www.e2.org/reports and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at https://www.e2.org/cleanjobsamerica/faq/.

Additional Resources:

• E2: Clean Jobs America 2018
• NASEO/EFI: 2018 USEER Report
• E2: Clean Jobs Rural America
• E2: Energy Efficiency Jobs In America
• Clean Jobs Count: Clean Jobs Count Pledge

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Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.