Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, D-R.I., has released the Rhode Island Clean Energy Industry Report 2018, which shows that clean energy employment in the Ocean State has grown by 72% since 2014, bringing 6,650 new jobs.
The state’s clean energy sector now counts more than 15,800 green jobs in total, says the report, which includes jobs in renewable energy generation, clean transportation, renewable heating and cooling, and energy efficiency.
“I’m thrilled that we’re creating thousands of exciting jobs in green energy, but we’re just getting started,” says Raimondo. “This spring, we selected Deepwater Wind to build an offshore wind farm big enough to power half the homes in Rhode Island. This project alone will create over 1,000 jobs, with a range from construction to engineering to manufacturing positions. Our work to aggressively pursue alternative energy and position ourselves as a leader in this industry will create thousands more jobs in the years to come.”
“Today, we are about one-third of the way toward reaching the governor’s 1,000 MW clean energy goal,” adds Carol Grant, state energy commissioner. “More Rhode Island residents, business owners and organizations are choosing clean energy. These projects lead not only to direct construction jobs but also to numerous supporting roles, including engineering, research and professional services. Energy efficiency is our largest sector and continues to grow as more Rhode Islanders make the switch to energy-saving products. This is great news for both the environment and our economy.”
The report also notes that employment in the state climbed by just under 4% between 2017 and 2018, meaning the energy sector continues to grow at a faster pace than the state’s overall workforce. Further, energy efficiency remains the largest portion of the state’s clean energy employment; it accounts for about 59% of all clean energy jobs, or over 9,300 workers.
The full report can be found here.
