Environment America recently released an estimate of the jobs from last year in the solar and wind industries, supported under the federal renewable energy grant program.Though the wind and solar industries are just a small portion of the total investment in the projects under the grant program, an estimated 59,000 jobs were created in these sectors. While the program was supposed to expire at the end of 2010, Environment America and clean energy advocates from around the country helped in its extension. The gran program has helped spur hundreds of projects that are returning tremendous benefits, creating jobs and boosting the overall economy.
“America’s potential to generate clean, renewable energy is as limitless as the power of the sun. Clean energy investments are helping Americans to harness that potential to create good, green jobs in a great time of need,” said Sean Garren, Clean Energy Advocate of Environment America. “Our estimates show that federal investments in clean energy are playing a critical role in protecting our health by reducing pollution and spurring the country’s economic recovery.”
“At a time when many companies and whole sectors were slowing down, this federal investment program really helped the renewable energy industries to come off the bench to deliver a slam dunk for our economy and our environment,” said Garren.
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