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Biodiesel in California: Companies Fueling Positive Change

Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to traditional diesel. It is made from feedstocks (raw materials) such as oils and recycled cooking grease, rather than fossil fuels. Biodiesel is commonly blended with traditional diesel, but is also sold in its pure form. It has considerably fewer emissions than its traditional counterpart and because much of the feedstock used in California is from the state, it reduces dependence on foreign sources. Successful growth of the companies profiled here demonstrates that the industry is creating jobs in California and growing the economy. EDF profiled one company to represent each step of the value chain: research and development, feedstock, collection, production, blending, and retail and distribution.

Clean Jobs Quarterly | Q1 2013

In the first quarter of 2013, E2 tracked more than 50 project announcements that could potentially lead to more than 12,000 clean energy and clean transportation jobs. Announcements were made in more than 20 states in communities ranging from Charlotte, North Carolina, to California’s Central Valley. These job announcements came in sectors as diverse as agriculture, manufacturing, and power generation.

The growth in clean energy and clean transportation jobs is reflective of what Americans say they want: A Gallup poll released in the first quarter of 2013 showed that more than 70 percent of Americans want more emphasis on clean technologies, including solar and wind power.

In many states, project announcements came despite concerted, politically motivated efforts to repeal renewable energy portfolio standards, which require utilities to get a portion of their energy from clean, renewable sources. E2’s findings indicate that portfolio standards work: Nine of the top 10 states that led the country in clean energy and clean transportation job announcements in the first quarter have renewable portfolio standards.

The Economic Benefits of Military Biofuels

The military’s plans to expand its use of biofuels in planes, ships and other vehicles would generate at least about $10 billion in economic activity and create more than 14,000 jobs by 2020. A synopsis can be found here.

Clean Jobs Quarterly | Q3 2012

Announcements from the third quarter of 2012. The economy continued to add clean energy jobs in the third quarter, but at a lower overall rate than from past quarters. Inaction by Congress and uncertainty in Washington is contributing to a decline across the wind, solar, transportation and other clean energy sectors.

Clean Jobs Quarterly | Q2 2012

Clean energy continues to contribute to the U.S. economy, breathing new life into domestic manufacturing and providing high quality jobs for workers around the country. Since September 2011, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), whose members represent a broad crosssection of business leaders, has been documenting our nation’s growth in this sector in our bi-weekly newsletter Clean Energy Jobs News. Since our first newsletter, E2 has compiled nearly 450 separate announcements of new hiring opportunities by companies, cities, and organizations, showing that America leads the way in energy innovation and creating new jobs.

Clean Jobs Quarterly | Q1 2012

Since our last quarterly report, we have seen examples in every state of how clean energy is becoming an important part of our nation’s energy supply, creating new opportunities for workers in our manufacturing sector, and building a cleaner, healthier, and more secure energy future. Clean energy employers announced plans involving at least 137 projects in 42 states during the first quarter of this year. Together, the projects could create as many as 46,000 new American jobs – reinforcing numerous other studies recently that show the clean energy industry is alive, well and poised for continued growth.