Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. clean energy sector was one of the bright spots for the U.S. economy, with a total workforce of 3.4 million employees in 2019, and the sector grew twice as fast as the overall U.S. economy since 2017. The sector rebounded slightly in June, but more than half a million workers filed for unemployment claims between March and June, according to an industry analysis.
Backing clean energy “can save jobs right now and revitalize our economy for years to come,” said Bob Keefe, executive director the E2 clean energy group. “Kicking the can down the road on clean energy while Covid cases worsen and business conditions deteriorate would be a double blow to our economy and Americans’ future prosperity.”