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Clean Jobs Rural Midwest

Growing Rural Economies

Clean energy creates jobs, supports local tax bases and infrastructure development, while providing new opportunities for farmers—driving economic benefits that are becoming ever more apparent. In rural communities facing economic challenges, investments in wind, solar, and energy efficiency are growing. This report from E2 focuses on one part of America – the rural Midwest – that exemplifies the growth in clean energy jobs in rural areas nationwide.

More than 8,000 new rural clean energy jobs were added in the 12-state Midwest region stretching from Ohio to North Dakota in 2016 alone, bringing the total number of rural Americans who work in clean energy in this region to nearly 148,000 (see Figure 1)—nearly a 6 percent increase over 2015. Of those 148,000 jobs, almost 22,000 are in renewable energy generation, with the rest in energy efficiency and sustainable transportation.

Key Findings

• Majority of Midwest states have more clean energy jobs per capita in rural areas than urban ones
• Clean energy employment represents a bright spot in rural communities that have otherwise lost population and jobs
• Clean energy jobs in the Midwest are growing 6% a year
• 99% of U.S. wind capacity is in rural areas
• Nearly 150,000 rural Midwesterners work in clean energy, including almost 22,000 in renewable energy generation
• More than 8,000 new rural clean energy jobs were added in rural Midwest areas in 2016 alone

Looking for More Info?

This report follows E2’s Clean Jobs America analysis which found the clean energy jobs account for nearly 3.3 million jobs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both reports expand on data from the U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership. E2 is a partner on the USEER, the fourth installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016. Clean energy jobs have grown every year since the first report was released in 2016.

If you are looking for additional insight into E2’s Clean Jobs Rural Midwest 2018 or our other Clean Jobs America reports, visit e2.org/reports. You can also contact E2 Communications Director Michael Timberlake ([email protected]). An FAQ is also available here to answer any questions.

Download

The complete report is available for download at this link.

Mapping Clean Energy: Illinois

Illinois’ clean energy economy is clearly thriving.

But where is all this economic activity happening?

That’s exactly what E2 — along with our partners at FracTracker Alliance — attempted to find out with this interactive map showing the location of more than 1,000 clean energy businesses across the state as well as sites where renewable energy is generated.

The purpose of this map is to help policymakers, press and individuals better understand the scope of Illinois’s clean energy economy – and how much room it has to grow.

On the map you’ll find:

• Clean energy businesses: Locations of energy efficiency and solar, wind and geothermal installers.
• Renewable energy infrastructure: Existing and proposed utility-scale wind, solar and hydroelectric generation facilities larger than 1 MW as well as schools with solar energy generation and public EV fueling stations.
• Income per capita and legislative and congressional district boundaries.

Key Takeaways from the Map:

• There are nearly 1,000 businesses displayed in the map, which includes energy efficiency contractors and renewable energy (solar, wind and geothermal) installers, covering the vast majority of the state.
• Half the state already has utility-scale renewable energy projects, with many utility-scale projects in the queue waiting to be built.

We’ve done our best to capture as many businesses as possible but we know we’ve missed some.  This map isn’t comprehensive; it represents one snapshot in time of an industry to show how robust it is. If you know we’ve missed something, please send an email to Micaela Preskill at [email protected] and we’ll add it to the map.

How to Use the Map:

When viewing the map, zoom in to see the intricacies of what’s happening in each part of the state. If you click “Layers” on the black bar at the top of the map you will see a drop-down menu, which you can use to make data appear or disappear on the map.

For more information about what you’re seeing, click directly on the map. A pop-up box will appear to show you specifics. Use the arrows on the top right of the pop-up box to see all the information that applies to that spot on the map. For example, if you click on a pin representing a energy efficiency contractor, you’ll see information about that business. You can also use the arrow to see what legislative districts that business is in.

The Map

Other Resources:

Illinois supports 119,395 clean energy jobs – 2017 Clean Jobs Midwest Report
Over 3 million Americans work in clean energy – Clean Jobs America

Mapping Clean Energy: Michigan

Michigan’s clean energy economy is clearly thriving.

But where is all this economic activity happening?

That’s exactly what E2 — along with our partners at FracTracker Alliance — attempted to find out with this series of  interactive maps showing the location of more than 1,200 clean energy businesses across the state as well as sites where renewable energy is generated.

Since Michigan passed legislation in 2008 requiring utilities to generate 10% of their electricity from renewables by 2015, we’ve seen the state’s clean energy economy grow. Then in December of 2016 lawmakers decided to uphold and improve aspects of the state’s clean energy standards. The renewable portfolio standard was increased and new energy efficiency incentives were created to push utilities to do more. With recently strengthened laws, it is no surprise that Michigan’s clean energy sector – as seen on this series of maps – is so robust.

The purpose of these maps is to help policymakers, press and individuals better understand the scope of Michigan’s clean energy economy – and how much room it has to grow.

Key Takeaways

• There are over 1,200 businesses displayed in the map, which includes energy efficiency contractors and renewable energy (solar, wind, and geothermal) installers, covering all 38 state senate districts and all 110 state house districts.
• Approximately 75 percent of the state has potential for either wind, solar or geothermal power.
• 32 counties already have large-scale renewable energy projects, which many more projects in the queue waiting to be built

We’ve done our best to capture as many businesses as possible but if you know we’ve missed something, please send an email to Micaela Preskill ([email protected]) and we’ll add it to the map. This map isn’t comprehensive; it represents one snapshot in time of an industry to help you understand just how robust it is, and where it still has room to grow.

How to Use the Maps:

We’ve created 3 maps to show different parts of Michigan’s clean energy economy. One map shows clean energy businesses, one shows renewable energy utility-scale infrastructure, and one shows renewable energy potential.

When viewing the map, zoom in to see the intricacies of what’s happening in each part of the state. If you click “Layers” on the black bar at the top of the map you will see a drop-down menu, which you can use to make data appear or disappear on the map.

For more information about what you’re seeing, click directly on the map. A pop-up box will appear to show you specifics. Use the arrows on the top right of the pop-up box to see all the information that applies to that spot on the map. For example, if you click on a pin representing a energy efficiency contractor, you’ll see information about that business. You can also use the arrow to see what legislative districts that business is in.

The Maps

The Clean Energy Business Map shows locations of energy efficiency contractors and solar, wind and geothermal installers.

Clean Energy Businesses

The Renewable Energy Infrastructure Map shows utility-scale wind and solar generation facilities larger than 1 MW and schools with solar energy generation.

Renewable Energy Infrastructure

The Renewable Potential Map shows the potential for wind, geothermal and solar power generation.

Renewable Energy Potential

Other Resources:

• Michigan supports over 92,000 clean energy jobs – 2017 Clean Jobs Midwest Report
• Over 3 million Americans work in clean energy – Clean Jobs America

Cleaner and Healthier Transportation: Electrification in Colorado

Colorado is at a crossroads – emissions from transportation is about to overtake the electricity sector, even as Pruitt’s EPA wants to roll back the national clean car standards.  Yet we are poised to take action.  Governor Hickenlooper joined the Climate Alliance with other states, pledging Colorado to follow the Paris Agreement. In July 2017, the Governor […]

Map Shows Where Illinois’ Clean Energy Economy is Growing

SPRINGFIELD, IL (May 3, 2018) – The national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) today unveiled an interactive map pinpointing where renewable energy is being generated across Illinois, the location of public EV charging stations and schools with solar panels, and where nearly 1,000 Illinois clean energy businesses (solar, wind, and geothermal) are growing. “E2 created this […]

Support Efforts to Combat Traffic Congestion in California

With the California State Legislature considering a bill to authorize California local agencies to tackle traffic congestion in their jurisdictions by piloting congestion relief programs called “Go Zones,” E2 members and allies from across the state sent this letter to California legislators urging them to support this bill and empower efforts to free up California’s […]

The 3 Rs of Electricity: Reliability, Resilience, & Renewables (Boston, MA)

The days of large coal, nuclear, and gas-fired power plants are waning. More than 100 cities, from Seattle to Nairobi, now receive at least 70 percent of their electricity from renewable energy. One of the leading drivers of this energy revolution is the need for greater resilience. A major part of the answer? Installation of […]

Americans are demanding clean energy, better vehicles — Trump is pushing the opposite

E2 Executive Director, Bob Keefe, writes an op-ed for The Hill, advocating for clean energy despite the Trump administration’s move to roll back car efficiency and pollution standards.

Mapping clean energy projects across Michigan

Online tool maps clean energy sites, energy efficiency contractors, renewable energy installers and electric vehicle charging stations LANSING, MI – The national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) today unveiled three interactive clean energy maps that pinpoint clean energy and energy efficiency sites, businesses and areas with high-potential for development across Michigan. The maps highlight […]

The President’s Own Party Still Doesn’t Back His Attempts to Dismantle Clean Energy

E2 Advocacy Director, Grant Carlisle, is in a GreenTech Media article noting bipartisan support of clean energy despite President Trump’s budget cuts. “Together, Republicans and Democrats voted to support American innovation in energy and vehicle technologies,” said advocacy director Grant Carlisle in a statement.

CONGRESS REJECTS TRUMP ENERGY VISION, FUNDS CLEAN ENERGY R&D IN 2018

WASHINGTON  (March. 23, 2018) –  Vital clean energy programs were spared massive cuts or received funding boosts in Congress’ massive 2018 funding packaged. The bipartisan spending deal rejects the deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) clean energy R&D programs requested in President Trump’s Budget Request for 2018, instead […]

E2 Partner Event: ACORES’s Renewable Energy Policy Forum (Washington, DC)

ACORE’s Renewable Energy Policy Forum (March 14, 2018 – Washington, D.C.) will bring together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss energy and tax policy, debate pressing issues in the changing electricity marketplace, and identify priorities for Congress, the states, and relevant agencies. The forum offers an important platform to identify how best to address developments […]