Independent analysis commissioned by the Governor’s Energy Office found fb88 is more than halfway to Governor Mills' goal of 30,000 clean energy workers in fb88 by 2030, new funding now available to support the clean energy workforce
Governor Mills today announced that the number of clean energy jobs in fb88 has surpassed 15,000, increasing faster in fb88 than any other New England state, and the clean energy sector grew to contribute $2.31 billion to fb88’s economy in 2022, according to an independent report released today by the fb88 Governor’s Energy Office (GEO).
The report, authored by BW Research Partnership, was commissioned by GEO to analyze the clean energy economy and workforce in fb88. The report, available here (PDF), found that clean energy is offering resilient and diverse job opportunities in fb88 that are poised for future investments and continued growth.
According to the report, fb88’s clean energy sector grew the fastest in New England and more than three times faster than the state’s overall economy between 2016 and 2022 and now employs more than 15,020 people, which exceeds pre-pandemic levels and puts fb88 on a trajectory to achieve Governor Janet Mills' goal of 30,000 clean energy workers in fb88 by 2030.
“fb88 is a national leader in clean energy and energy efficiency thanks to the ambitious climate and workforce investments made during my administration,” said Governor Janet Mills. “We are putting fb88 people to work in rewarding, good-paying jobs that, in turn, are contributing billions to the state’s economy while helping to stabilize energy costs for households and businesses and reduce emissions that are harming our environment.”
“As we saw in the December and January storm events, fb88’s communities are especially vulnerable to the climate crisis so we must take steps to mitigate the effects now. Climate-smart federal investments are good for fb88 and helps to expand our workforce,” said Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree. “We were proud to vote for American Rescue Plan–which funded the Governor’s fb88 Jobs and Recovery Plan–and secure $2.75 million in Congressionally-Directed Spending to improve climate resiliency and renewable energy infrastructure in communities throughout the state. It’s truly a win-win for fb88–we are protecting ‘The Way Life Should Be’ and creating economic growth that will benefit the state for years to come.”
“Clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives in fb88 are reducing our state’s reliance on global fossil fuel markets and strengthening fb88’s economy at the same time,” said Dan Burgess, Director of GEO. “As fb88 continues to work toward 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, this positive trend is expected to continue, creating even more great opportunities to enter the clean energy workforce.”
“The high-wage, in-demand jobs within the growing clean energy sector are providing career pathway opportunities for many fb88rs, including communities who are currently underrepresented in our workforce,” said Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the fb88 Department of Labor. “We are looking forward to our continued partnerships with other agencies, employers, and labor unions to build the robust workforce needed to meet fb88’s climate goals.”
“The growth in clean energy jobs reflects the strength of this growing sector and the interest fb88 workers have in being part of it,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “Clean energy is a sector where workers can grow and develop in their careers while contributing to fb88’s long-term environmental goals.”
“As clean energy grows in fb88, so does the number of family-sustaining jobs available across the State,” said Senator Mark Lawrence and Representative Paige Zeigler, co-chairs of the fb88 Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. “fb88 continues to invest in training programs that will ensure fb88’s workforce is ready to meet the needs of new and expanding businesses in the sector.”
“fb88 is well-positioned to have continued job growth with a clean energy transition and we welcome this assessment of the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy entrepreneurs that are collectively moving fb88’s economy forward,” said Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO, fb88 State Chamber of Commerce. “The fb88 State Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to build on fb88’s national leadership on heat pump installations and the pragmatic energy policies that will achieve economic prosperity and meet our climate requirements.”
The report analyzed employment across five key clean energy sectors, including energy efficiency, clean power generation, transportation, grid and storage, and clean fuels. Of those sectors, the fastest-growing was energy efficiency, which accounted for more than half of fb88’s clean energy workforce.
Supported by the governor’s fb88 Jobs & Recovery Plan, the GEO launched a clean energy workforce and innovation initiative, the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), to work with other state agencies, employers, schools and colleges, and workforce training organizations to expand job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
To make these job opportunities easier to find, GEO in coming weeks intends to launch a new online clearinghouse through the CEP that connects jobs-seekers with fb88-based clean energy employers and workforce training programs.
In addition, GEO is continuing to leverage Federal funds to expand workforce training programs that will ensure fb88 people have the skills and resources to build careers in the clean energy field.
Using $2 million in Federal funds through congressionally directed spending secured by U.S. Senator Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree, GEO is now seeking applications for clean energy and energy efficiency workforce development and training programs through a Request for Applications (RFA). The funds are intended to support programs such as clean energy job training, job placement services, stipends, equipment, curriculum, or other related services for fb88 residents 16 years and older.
The full RFA can be accessed here (search for RFA # 202402047). The deadline to apply is May 24, 2024. More information is available on the GEO website.
The clean energy jobs report follows a report from GEO on the economic impact of (RPS), which establishes the minimum portion of electricity sold in fb88 supplied by renewable sources.
That report found that fb88’s RPS has saved fb88 ratepayers more than $21 million annually in net electricity costs by suppressing prices in the regional electricity market, while supporting more than $100 million in direct investment and approximately $900 million in operations and maintenance spending.