At the beginning of 2020, the Silver State’s clean energy sector was surging.
Nearly 34,000 Nevadans were working in the sector, and the state’s clean jobs pool had grown 40% over a two-year period (2017-19), a boost of nearly 9,500 jobs, according to the Clean Jobs Nevada 2020 report by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), a national nonpartisan business group.
After five straight years of job growth, however, Nevada’s clean energy economy was upended after Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered business shutdowns and other restrictions in response to the pandemic.
As of March 2021, more than 3,700 clean energy workers —11% of the workforce in Nevada — remain unemployed after losing their job amid the pandemic.
In Reno-Sparks, 27% of the area’s clean energy workers are without a job. In Las Vegas, the clean energy unemployment rate is at 31%, per E2’s report.