Jobs from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

The document presents a collection of data points from multiple research organizations arguing that renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) sectors generate more employment per unit of energy or investment than fossil fuels. It highlights national and state-level projections in the US, such as the potential for 4.2 million new green jobs by 2038, and international examples from Germany, Spain, Brazil, and India. Specific technology sectors—including wind, solar, biofuels, and geothermal—are detailed alongside the impact of policy mechanisms like Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and investment tax credits.

• In 2006, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries in the United States created 8.5 million direct and indirect jobs, with 450,000 in RE and 8 million in EE.
• Renewable energy is found to be more labor-intensive than the fossil fuel sector, creating more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy produced, and per dollar of investment.
• A national Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 20% by 2020 is estimated to create 185,000 new RE development jobs and provide $25.6 billion in income to rural landowners, farmers, and ranchers.
• In Germany, renewable energy employment grew from 160,500 green jobs in 2004 to 249,300 in 2007, with wind power accounting for 34% of these jobs in 2007.
• The solar industry in the US is projected to employ 150,000 people in 25 years, and the extension of the 30 percent solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) could support 440,000 jobs.
• The US ethanol industry created 163,034 jobs across all economic sectors in 2006 and supported 238,541 jobs in 2007.
• In contrast to the growth in green sectors, US coal mining employment declined from 185,000 jobs in 1985 to 80,000 in 2005, despite an increase in coal output.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2008). Jobs from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. https://www.eesi.org/files/green_jobs_factsheet_102208.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Jobs from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. 2008. https://www.eesi.org/files/green_jobs_factsheet_102208.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Jobs from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |date=22 October 2008 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/green_jobs_factsheet_102208.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2008jobs, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Jobs from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/green_jobs_factsheet_102208.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }