Making Energy Work: Building a Sustainable Energy Economy in the Southeast

Green Jobs

NORTH CAROLINA CAN BE A NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEADER IN THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Industry = 6,470+ Jobs in NC; Significant Growth Expected

  

After passing a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) in August 2007, North Carolina is now faced with the challenge of preparing a skilled workforce. In response, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) is leading a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workforce Development Program, which consists of two components – industry research and workforce development facilitation.

On November 12, 2008, NCSEA released two new reports, which detail the economic impact of the new energy economy in North Carolina. The findings are published in the "North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industry Census 2008” and “Economic Analysis of the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard."

NCSEA identified and surveyed 486 firms focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency in North Carolina. The survey found that the 166 responding firms currently provide 2,144 full-time jobs. These firms reported significant employment growth over the last 12 months and project a 24% growth over the next year. 

Accounting for all identified renewable energy and energy efficiency firms, the industry could consist of over 6,470 jobs today. Furthermore, meeting the REPS mandate will require the support of over 4,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs by the year 2021, with most jobs occurring in the biomass industry. 


Click here to read the full press release announcing the reports.

Click here to read the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industry Census 2008.

Click here to read the Economic Analysis of the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard and click here for the executive summary.


For more information, contact Paul Quinlan, NCSEA Director of Market Research & Development, at paul@energync.org or (919) 832-7601 ext. 105.  Media questions should be directed to Julie Robinson, NCSEA Marketing & Communications Director, at julie@energync.org or (919) 832-7601 ext. 108.

Renewable Energy in NC: The Potential Supply Chain

Prepared for the Institute for Emerging Issues, August 2008
by Dr. Keith G. Debbage, GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellow, Institute for Emerging Issues and Professor of Urban Geography at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro


This report looks at the spatial distribution and economic magnitude of North Carolina's renewable energy supply chain in wind, solar, biomass and geothermal and identifies companies with the technical potential to enter the renewable energy market in North Carolina.

The report finds that North Carolina's potential new energy economy supply chain is a diverse and mature sector of the state economy comprising just over 1,300 firms and employing over 61,000 workers.

Click here to view the complete report.