Data shows “there’s nothing partisan or political about clean energy jobs.”
WASHINGTON (November 1, 2021) – As Congress prepares to vote on the biggest U.S. investments ever in clean energy and the COP26 international climate summit begins in Scotland, a new analysis shows that America’s more than 3 million clean energy jobs are nearly evenly split across Republican and Democratic congressional districts.
Clean Jobs America 2021 | Clean Energy Jobs By U.S. Congressional Districts, a new searchable database of U.S. employment across clean energy sectors (renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, clean fuels, and storage and grid modernization), shows that all 435 U.S. congressional districts are home to clean energy jobs, and 99 percent of them are home to least 1,000 clean energy jobs.
Broken down by party affiliation, about 1.6 million (54 percent) are in congressional districts currently represented by Democrats and 1.4 million (45 percent) are represented by Republicans in Congress.
The analysis also found that the vast majority of clean energy jobs are in rural or suburban districts. About 2.4 million clean energy jobs are outside of big cities and urban areas, including nearly 1.2 million in rural and mostly rural districts, according to the jobs analysis by BW Research Partners for E2.
E2’s new congressional clean energy jobs database includes a searchable map for specifics on all 435 congressional districts, breakdowns for renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors and by Republican and Democratic-led districts. Some specific highlights:
- Based on clean energy jobs density (employment per 1,000 district jobs), five of the top 10 congressional districts are represented by Republicans, and five are represented by Democrats.
- Based on total jobs, the top five congressional districts are represented by:
- Ro Khanna (D-CA)
- Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
- Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)
- John Curtis (R-UT)
- Katie Porter D-CA)
- A total of 431 districts are home to more than 1,000 clean energy jobs and 279 districts are home to more than 5,000 clean energy jobs.
The findings were released on a national press conference call today with the Chair of House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.). Watch a recording of the presser here.
House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) whose district employs over 7,000 clean energy workers said:
“Expanding clean energy gives us an opportunity to create millions of good-paying jobs across America, which is why we’re focused in Congress on passing the single largest investment in clean energy and climate in our nation’s history. Making these investments now will be crucial for future generations.”
Bob Keefe, executive director of E2 said:
“There’s nothing partisan or political about clean energy jobs. These aren’t blue state jobs or red state jobs, they’re red, white and blue jobs. Any member of Congress who votes against clean energy and climate action is voting against the clean energy workers in their district.
“Our leaders in Washington and Glasgow should realize that the clean energy investments they’re considering will benefit workers and create new jobs in every part of America – regardless of politics or location.”
Phil Jordan, vice president at BW Research said:
“The clean energy transition is creating jobs all across the nation and are not dependent on specific resources or geographic location. Policies to spur clean energy growth will create even more jobs and more places and spread the economic opportunity across a wide swath of America”
For more information, including a searchable database for every zip code and congressional district in the country, see https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/.
Additional Resources:
- Clean Jobs America 2021| April 2021
- Help Wanted: Diversity In Clean Energy | September 2021
- Clean Jobs, Better Jobs: An examination of clean energy job wages and benefits | October 2020
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Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.