93 Political Economy Research Institute • Center f or American Progress Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Virginia By Robert Pollin, James Heintz, and Heidi Garrett-Peltier Investments in a clean-energy economy will generate major employment benets or Virginia and the rest o the U.S . economy . Our research nds tha t Virginia could see a net increase oabout $3.9 bil lion in investment revenue and 45,000 jobs based on its share oa total o$150 billion in clean-energy investments annually across the country. Tis is even aer assuming a reduction in ossil uel spending equivalent to the increase in clean- energy investments. Adding 45,000 jobs to the Virginia l abor market in 2008 would hav e brought the state ’ s unemployment rate down to 2.9 percent rom its actual 2008 level o4.0 percent. Clean energy creates jobs across the economy Clean-energy investments create 16.7 jobs or every $1 million in spending. Spending on ossil uels, by contrast, generates 5.3 jobs per $1 million in spending. Most othe jobs created through clean-energy investments will be in the same areas that people work in today. Constructing wind arms creates jobs or sheet metal workers, machinists, and truck drivers. Increasing buildings’ energy efciency through retrot- ting requires rooers, insulators, and building inspectors. Ex panding mass transit systems employs civil engineers, electricians, and dispatchers. Relative to spending on ossil uels, clean-energy investments create 2.6 times more jobs or people with college degrees or above, 3 times more jobs or people with some college, and 3.6 times more jobs or people with high school degrees or less.
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94 Political Economy Research Institute • Center for American Progress
Legislation encourages private investment
Most o the $150 billion per year in new clean energy investments would come rom
private businesses. Te American Recovery and Reinvesment Act encourages private
investors through a wide range o subsidies, incentives, and regulations. Te American
Clean Energy and Security Act—currently being debated in Congress—includes a range
o measures that would substantially strengthen these clean-energy investment incentivesor private businesses.
Policies such as the ACESA will have signicant economic benets in addition to their envi-
ronmental contributions. Most importantly, a clean-energy investment program will be an
engine or expanding employment opportunities in Virginia and throughout the country.
Investment promotes efficiency and renewable energy
Te largest share o clean-energy investments will go toward energy efciency, including
unds or building retrots, public transportation, and a smart grid electrical transmission
system. Important new investments will also be devoted to developing renewable energy
sources, including wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal power.
Te overall clean-energy investment program will provide a major boost to the construc-
tion and manuacturing sectors, in Virginia and throughout the United States.
Rober Pollin is professor of economics and co-direcor of he Poliical Economy Research
Insiue a he Universiy of Massachusets-Amhers. James Heinz is associae research professor and associae direcor for PERI. Heidi Garret-Pelier is a PERI research fellow.