Report Puts Connecticut at the Top for Green Job Prospects

Last month, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a national independent business voice for the environment and comprised of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity, released a report that ranked states for green job prospects for the first quarter of 2012. E2 based these rankings on projects announced during this time period. Connecticut was ranked the top state in this report based on two major projects.

In all, the E2 report stated that during the first quarter of 2012, nationally there was 137 projects in 42 states that collectively could create about 46,000 new jobs. E2 looked at projects and programs in various stages mainly in manufacturing, energy, biofuels and public transportation sectors. The E2 report is based on job announcements compiled from formal announcements and media reports In Connecticut, E2 cited two projects that will bring about 4500 jobs to Connecticut. These two projects are in the transportation and alternative energy sectors.

While Connecticut had the fewest projects in the top 10 states, the two projects represent the most potential green jobs of any state. Other states that made the top ten include Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina and Texas.

Some other points of interest from the E2 report include:

*Power generation companies announced the most clean energy jobs in the first quarter. Wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and other renewable energy sectors announced 68 projects that together would create more than 18,000 jobs.

*Manufacturing companies making everything from electric vehicles to solar panels and wind turbine parts announced 35 projects i the quarter that would create more than 10,000 jobs.

*Many of the first quarter job announcements were connected to federal, state or local projects, ranging from building and home efficiency programs in Chicago and Wisconsin to a county”backed solar farm in Florida.

*Clean energy job announcements have no political or regional boundaries. A total of 70 announcements were in Republican congressional districts; 54 were in Democratic districts and 13 spanned more than one congressional district.