According to a report released Monday by the Blue Green Alliance (BGA), existing U.S. suppliers- makers of steel towers, controls, ball bearings and other components - could create 850,000 full time jobs for American workers if a federal Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is adopted.
The BGA report highlights a study done by the Renewable Energy Policy Project, based on a federal RES of 25% renewable energy by 2025.
This federal RES would stimulate jobs in the manufacturing of parts for solar, geothermal, wind, and biomass energy production.
The benefits for our region?
- Kansas - 11,491 new jobs in 425 existing manufacturing firms
- Missouri - 22,796 new jobs in 785 existing manufacturing firms
- Oklahoma- 12,628 new jobs in 800 existing manufacturing firms
- Nebraska- 6,210 new jobs in 200 existing manufacturing firms
- Iowa- 9,230 new jobs in 457 existing manufacturing firms
Key quotable from the report press release: "With steep
job losses in manufacturing in the past year," said Blue Green Alliance
Executive Director David Foster, "the need for a renewable electricity
standard to combat climate change is now matched by the urgent need to
reverse the devastating downturn in domestic manufacturing."
Find the full report here.
The Blue Green Alliance (BGA) is a national partnership of labor
unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the green
economy - with good, green jobs for American workers.
The Kansas chapter of the BGA
includes the United Steelworkers, Communication Workers of America,
Kansas Farmers' Union, The Sierra Club, The Climate and Energy Project,
The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, and others.
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