Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

This June 2011 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides estimates for employment in the United States energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors, drawing on data from government agencies and industry associations.

• Employment in energy efficiency is difficult to quantify because many roles exist within larger industries such as home renovation. A 2010 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) study found that $1 million spent on energy efficiency creates between 2.5 and 8.9 person-years of employment. Specifically, low income weatherization and insulation provide the highest return at 8.9 person-years per $1 million, while Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) provide the lowest at 2.5.
• Energy efficiency standards for lighting, equipment, and appliances are significant job drivers. A 2011 study indicated that these standards alone created or sustained 340,000 jobs in 2010, resulting from $34 billion in energy savings.
• The U.S. solar industry experienced rapid growth between 2009 and 2010, increasing from 50,000 workers to 93,000 workers. The Solar Foundation projected this number would grow by an additional 26 percent by August 2011.
• Employment in the wind industry declined from 85,000 Americans in 2010 to an estimated 75,000, which the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) attributed to the economic downturn and a lack of federal long-term energy policy.
• Other renewable energy sectors show varying employment levels: hydropower is estimated at 200,000-300,000 direct jobs; the ethanol industry employs approximately 70,400 people directly and 400,677 indirectly/induced; the biodiesel industry had 51,893 jobs in 2008; the biopower industry provides 14,000 jobs; and geothermal energy had 5,200 direct jobs as of 2010.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2011). Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. https://www.eesi.org/files/jobs_reee_060111.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. 2011. https://www.eesi.org/files/jobs_reee_060111.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |date=June 2011 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/jobs_reee_060111.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2011jobs, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2011}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/jobs_reee_060111.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }