Carolinas could see 50,000 clean-energy jobs

"Carolinas could see 50,000 clean-energy jobs(By John Downey via Charlotte Business Journal)An aggressive federal mandate for renewable energy production could create
more than 28,500 clean-energy manufacturing jobs in North Carolina by 2025,
says a new study by a labor and environmental group.That would rank North Carolina tenth in the nation. South Carolina would
rank 13th in new job creation, with more than 22,350 jobs created.It's something that should catch the eye of Charlotte regional leaders
looking to turn the area into a hub for energy development and
manufacturing.Solar leads N.C.The report was published by the BlueGreen Alliance, a labor and
environmental group. It is pushing for a federal standard to require
renewable energy represent 25% of all energy produced in the United States
by 2025.That was the standard originally proposed in the American Clean Energy and
Security Act. In late May, that was reduced to 20% in the current version
of the legislation, known as the Waxman-Markey bill, named for its
principal Congressional sponsors. The House is expected to vote on the bill
Friday.For North Carolina, the single biggest contributor would be jobs in the
solar industry. The study estimates that current manufacturers in the state
would add 11,062 solar-related jobs. Wind is a close second, with
manufacturers adding 10,964 jobs. Biomass is a distant third at 3,708 jobs.Geothermal hot in S.C.Wind dominates the potential for South Carolina, creating as many as 11,204
jobs the study says. Solar lags far behind at 3,559. But geothermal
manufacturing is a unexpected bright spot — with the potential for 5,223
jobs.That's the third highest in the nation for geothermal jobs, trailing only
California and New York.California is the overall leader, with the potential for 95,616 jobs. The
report emphasizes is estimates are for direct manufacturing jobs. The
totals do not include construction and maintenance jobs, for example.And the report is based on estimating how current manufacturers in each
state would expand operations. So a state with an aggressive program to
attract clean-energy jobs could do better than projected.For the very latest in clean energy jobs across the U.S. and globally
please click here"