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E2 Federal Action Alert – Build Back Better Letter to President Biden
Please review this E2 action alert letter and add your e-signature by using the fields below and clicking the ADD YOUR SIGNATURE button. Note that you are signing on as an individual and not as a representative of your employer.
Deadline to sign on is Tuesday, February 22, 2022
A New Frontier for American Energy: The Economic Promise of Offshore Wind for North Carolina
Offshore wind is poised to play a key role in achieving a clean future for the Southeast. With several Southeastern states establishing ambitious climate goals, it’s clear that our region must pursue every viable avenue to generate clean power at the scale needed. And given its established success elsewhere in the world, its growing momentum […]
Offshore Wind to Generate Billions for North Carolina Economy
The state must actively pursue development of offshore wind projects to capture the maximum economic opportunity RALEIGH, N.C. – A new analysis shows that constructing 2.8-gigawatts of offshore wind off North Carolina’s coast by 2030 will result in a net economic benefit of up to $4.6 billion for the state’s economy. The North Carolina Offshore Wind […]
North Carolina Offshore Wind Cost-Benefit Analysis
SUMMARY
Over the next decade offshore wind is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing the U.S. electric sector, and especially along the East Coast. When states are considering offshore wind goals, they will certainly evaluate the myriad of associated costs and benefits.
This analysis was developed to help decision makers quantify some of the economic development and environmental benefits associated with offshore wind. This analysis calculates the costs and benefits associated with a single 2.8-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind project off the coast of North Carolina in operation by 2030. Both a base scenario, assuming a standard amount of local manufacturing/supply chain content, and a high local content (or “high”) scenario, were developed.
The high scenario assumes 100% local content for both the blades and offshore substations of a single 2.8GW theoretical project. Content assumptions are based on findings from the March 2021 offshore wind supply chain study conducted on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, which indicates these components being most likely to locate production in-state. While not within the scope of this calculation, it is important to highlight the compounded value that new or expanded offshore wind supply chain capabilities located in North Carolina will create. In addition to providing economic benefit to the state through projects developed off the coast of North Carolina, offshore wind manufacturers will also supply components for projects along the Atlantic coast or potentially across the country or the globe — generating continued economic benefit to the state, absent the cost of generating electricity.
RESULTS
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View and download the complete report at at this link.
View and download a one-page summary of the report’s key findings at this link.
BACKGROUND
Recently codified in state-level legislation, North Carolina has asserted the carbon-reduction goal of 70% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century4 . To that end, the Governor’s administration, the North Carolina General Assembly, and Duke Energy have all endeavored to examine pathways to reliably and costeffectively decarbonize the state’s electric grid5,6,7,8. While offshore wind has occasionally been an element of these discussions, due to relative cost and nascency of the U.S. offshore wind industry, it hasn’t been evaluated as a primary tool for decarbonization.
Absent from any of the decarbonization modeling or stakeholder processes conducted in the state since 2018 is the consideration of the economic benefits that accompany offshore wind. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), now the American Clean Power Association (ACP), an estimated 30GW of offshore wind deployment in the U.S. by 2030 could generate as much as $57 billion in economic output9 . As such, the inclusion of these benefits is critical when understanding the full value of the technology.
This analysis determines both the costs and benefits of a theoretical 2.8-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind project developed off the coast of North Carolina in operation by 2030 using industry-standard practices, data, and modeling tools. The costs and benefits are measured against one another to determine the net economic impact.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
View Report »Biden’s First Offshore Wind Auction to Jumpstart Job Growth, Strengthen Coastal Economies
The Biden administration announced its first auction of offshore wind power leases today, in the New York Bight off the coasts of New York and New Jersey, a critical move for the sector to reach federal and state targets for offshore wind development by the end of the decade. The leases from the auction, set […]
E2: NOAA Report Bolsters Case for Build Back Better
Major climate disasters cost the U.S. economy more than $145 billion last year, according to data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today. The following is a statement from Bob Keefe, executive director of the national nonpartisan business group E2: “Climate change is killing our economy – and this new data […]
Clean Jobs Colorado 2021
Summary:
Driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis, Colorado experienced its first decline in clean energy jobs in 2020 since E2 began tracking the industry with this methodology in 2017. Colorado’s clean energy economy employed more than 58,000 workers at the end of 2020, down from 62,400 the year before, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data and the findings of a national survey of more than 35,000 businesses across the U.S. economy.
By May of last year, more than 7,500 clean energy workers in Colorado had lost their jobs since the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading widely, according to monthly analysis of unemployment data by E2 and partners.2 Since the sector’s losses peaked at the end of May 2020, jobs grew back by 6 percent. In fact, by the end of 2020 more than about 40 percent of the clean energy jobs lost between March and May had been regained, leaving the sector down about 7 percent (about 4,200 jobs) since COVID-19.
Thanks to smart state climate policy leadership, Colorado’s clean energy economy has proven to be a core part of the state’s economy—representing more than 2 percent of overall state employment. It has been resilient and robust in the face of crushing economy-wide pressures.
Findings
- Colorado’s Clean Vehicles sector, made up of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, PlugIn Hybrid Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Natural Gas Vehicles, and Hydrogen & Fuel Cell, grew almost 6 percent over the previous year, as automakers increasingly shift to cleaner and more efficient electric cars, trucks, and buses. With smart policies, Colorado can be a center for innovation and high-tech manufacturing in this sector.
- The most significant sector decline was in the Energy Efficiency sector, where the pandemic curtailed in-person engagement with customers.
- The total clean energy generation sector ended the year with a 3 percent loss. Wind and solar gained jobs, while geothermal, bioenergy/combined heat & power and low-impact hydro took the hit in job losses.
Colorado Clean Energy Employment, 2020
| Energy Efficiency | 32,595 |
| Renewables | 17,324 |
| Clean Vehicles | 3,392 |
| Storage and Grid | 2,912 |
| Clean Fuels | 1,959 |
| TOTAL | 58,182 |
Policies Matter
Colorado’s landmark bill that passed and became law in 2019, Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution (HB19-1261),4 and was strengthened during the 2021 legislative session, requires the state to reduce 2025 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26 percent, 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90 percent of the levels of statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that existed in 2005. In 2021, HB21-1266 defines disproportionately impacted communities, requires engagement of those communities, and creates staffing, task forces, and boards focused on addressing environmental justice. These two laws inform how agencies are required to meet the GHG reduction goals, in with equity and justice at the forefront.
Several agency commissions are continuing to promulgate rules. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is developing rules to affect utilities that provide retail electricity. The Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) is developing rules to curb emissions in the oil and gas sector and together with the Colorado Department of Transportation Commission are designing rules to electrify transportation, increase transit, walking and biking options, and reduce individual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
The 2022 legislative session should continue to address GHG emissions, as well as reduce waste, improve recycling, support renewable energy and regional transmission, improve monitoring emissions of oil and gas operations, and other policies in support of the environment and the clean economy.
Background
This is the fourth annual Clean Jobs Colorado report produced by E2 based on analysis of the USEER, which was first released by the DOE in 2016. E2 was an original proponent of the DOE producing the USEER and was a partner on the reports produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) and National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) after the Trump administration abandoned it in 2017.
For additional insight into E2’s Clean Jobs Colorado or our other annual clean energy economic reports, visit e2.org/reports.
An FAQ is available at e2.org/reports/clean-jobs-america-faq.
Previous Reports
Clean Jobs Colorado 2021 is the 5th clean energy jobs report for California from E2. Previous reports can be accessed in the below links.
Colorado Clean Energy Jobs Grew 6% in 2nd Half of 2020, Now Home to 58,000 Workers: REPORT
More than 40% of jobs lost from pandemic crisis recovered by last January DENVER (December 13, 2021) – More than 58,000 clean energy workers are employed in Colorado across every county after the sector surged 6 percent in the second half of 2020. That’s according to a new analysis of employment data released today by […]
Send an Email to Your Senators to Support the Build Back Better Act
The Build Back Better Act will invest in clean energy, clean vehicles, research and development and other critical climate programs.
It will create millions of jobs, drive billions in investments, and help ensure America is competitive with the rest of the world — all while reducing US emissions and addressing climate change.
House Delivers for US Economy, Now Senate Must Act
WASHINGTON, DC – The reconciliation package passed out of the House on Thursday by a vote 220-213, advancing the core of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda to the Senate. Statement from Sandra Purohit, director of federal advocacy for E2: “Today the House delivered for our economy, our workers, and our communities and we are […]