New clean energy jobs are on the rise across the United States. According to Climate Power’s Clean Energy Boom Anniversary Report, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in August 2022, more than 170,000 new positions in 44 states have been announced.
These jobs in wind, batteries, solar, and electric vehicle (EV) storage are well-paying, providing an economic jolt into local areas. This increase is just the beginning, as numerous new clean energy projects are launching across the nation.
Photo Courtesy Climate Power
The Brookings Institution research shows that clean energy employment offers a salary increase of nearly 20% for most applicants. Many of these jobs don’t always require a college degree for higher salaries and great benefits: nearly half of current clean energy production workers have a high school diploma only.
The amount new jobs that include union representation also increased. Many American companies are now restoring former manufacturing jobs as new clean energy ones — in 2022, 350,000 of these positions came back online, a 25% increase from 2021.
According to Climate Power, there are currently 272 new clean energy projects revving up in America. These projects have a combined investment total of $278 billion in new funding.
In McCarren, NV, Redwood Materials’ battery materials campus is opening 3,400 strong-paying construction jobs for union, minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
Battery manufacturing plants in Tucson, AZ; Florence County, SC; and Rochester, NY, are leading the way. General Motors (GM) is expanding its Toledo, OH, and Marion, IN, plants to produce EV components.
“Our Toledo team has a long, proud history of building great products, and they have worked hard to earn this investment,” Gerald Johnson, GM’s executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, said in a press release. “This investment helps build job security for our Toledo team for years to come and is the next step on our journey to an all-electric future.”
Photo Courtesy Brookings Institution
In many cases, these facilities are represented by the United Auto Workers union. In New York, General Electric and IUE-CWA unions have agreed that the new wind turbine production facility employees may organize. It also has an agreement with SPARKZ’s battery plant in West Virginia to train former miners in new clean energy jobs.
“SPARKZ is excited to bring its patriotic power company to West Virginia and begin hiring coalfield families starting today. This is the perfect location to begin re-engineering the battery supply chain to end China’s dominance in energy storage. The support of Senator Manchin, Senator Capito, and West Virginia officials including Governor Justice will help us invest significant resources in workforce development and training for West Virginians with our partners at the United Mine Workers of America. Helping coalfield families transition into the new energy economy is central to our mission,” shared founder and CEO Sanjiv Malhotra.
Whether it’s a help wanted ad for an EV or battery facility, a wind or solar farm, or in new hydrogen technology, clean jobs are sweeping the nation, triggered by the bipartisan support from the Inflation Reduction Act.
