Clean energy jobs have grown faster than the rest of Idaho's economy

Clean energy jobs grew nine times faster than overall jobs in Idaho between 1998 and 2007, the Pew Charitable Trusts reports.

Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming led the country with the largest percent growth in green energy jobs over the decade.

Pew found that between 1998 and 2007, Idaho jobs in the wind, solar, biofuel and energy efficiency industry grew at a rate of 126.1 percent, while overall Idaho jobs grew by 13.8 percent. Idaho was part of a national trend that saw job growth in the clean energy economy outperforming overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia over the same period.

Nationally, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a rate of 9.1 percent while total jobs grew by only 3.7 percent, between 1998 and 2007.

"Idaho has more than doubled its number of jobs in the clean energy economy between 1998 and 2007, growing at a much faster rate than total jobs," said Phyllis Cuttino, director, U.S. Global Warming Campaign, at the Pew Environment Group. "The state has more wind power potential than Oregon and Washington combined, and the state university is considering a wind technologies degree program to support that potential industry."

In 2007, there were more than 4,500 jobs in Idaho‚s clean energy economy including engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000. Venture capital investment in clean technology in Idaho totaled nearly $28 million in the last three years.

Pew says the clean energy economy "generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources." It comprises five categories, clean energy, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly production, conservation and pollution offsets,training and support.