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Sunny outlook: 75K working in clean energy in Wisconsin
'...the Midwest continues to demonstrate it is a fertile region for clean energy innovation.'
More than 75,000 Wisconsinites work in clean energy industries, according to an analysis from Clean Energy Trust and the national E2–Environmental Entrepreneurs.
The groups said Department of Labor Employment stats show the state’s clean energy workforce outnumbers all the waiters and waitresses, computer programmers, lawyers and web developers in Wisconsin combined.
Energy efficiency led all clean energy sectors in the state, employing 62,299 workers — accounting for eight in 10 of all clean energy workers.
Renewable energy generation came in second, with more 5,600 jobs, led by solar and wind.
Overall, eight times more people work in clean energy than fossil fuels in the state.
“The beauty of data is that it cuts through political rhetoric,” said Erik G. Birkerts, CEO of Clean Energy Trust. “These findings show that clean energy jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency are growing across the region and that the Midwest continues to demonstrate it is a fertile region for clean energy innovation.”
Contributing the most clean energy jobs were Milwaukee County with 10,776, Dane County with 9,970 and Waukesha County with 9,000 counties.
“Wisconsin has a tremendous job creation opportunity because these clean-energy technologies are now cost-effective and ready for prime-time,” said Tyler Huebner, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin.
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