Only California outranked North Carolina with the number of clean energy and clean transportation jobs announced last year.
The state came in second in the Environmental Entrepreneurs list of top 10 states for clean energy job creation with 445 jobs already in the works for projects in operation, 2,121 jobs for projects in the process of being started and 8,301 jobs from projects in the earliest stage of development. The Environmental Entrepreneurs is a nationwide group of more than 850 business leaders who advocate for environmental and economy policies that benefit clean energy and clean transportation.
Five of the 19 clean energy job pledges in the state last year came from areas around Gaston County, though none of the job announcements would bring jobs directly to Gaston County.
Those clean energy companies are slated to bring 7,070 construction jobs and 566 jobs at the businesses in the coming years, according to their job announcements.
Environmental Entrepreneurs pulls its information from job announcements published in the media. Not all job announcements result in the number of jobs anticipated.
“What we have undertaken to do does not pretend to be a jobs survey,” said Judith Albert, executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs. “What we are trying to do is try to track announcements to find out what companies are looking at investing in.”
Still, the U.S. is on its way to reaching the goal of doubling the amount of renewable energy and energy efficiency with jobs being announced across the country, said Albert.
Clean energy jobs typically pay better than average, help the economy and help the environment, Albert said.
North Carolina allows a $2.5 million tax credit for businesses who install solar, wind or other clean energy technologies.
While the state is emerging as a leader in the clean energy field, Environmental Entrepreneurs experts warn that the shifting political climate could cause the state to slip back in the rankings if support for renewable and clean energy wanes in favor of fossil fuels, Albert said.
You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.