CT Ranked #5 in Green Job Creation in 2012

Connecticut ranked #5 in the U.S. for green job creation during 2012, according to a national business association compiling of media reports. Environmental Entrepreneurs, a New York City-based organization, ranked all 50 states for green job creation based on projects completed, in progress, or announced in 2012 and the estimated number of jobs created by those projects.  Nationwide, companies and communities announced more than 300 clean energy and clean transportation projects in 2012 that are expected to create 110,000 jobs, the report said.

Connecticut had four projects in 2012 expected to generate 4,958 jobs, the Hartford Business Journal noted in its reporting.  Those projects were the construction of the $97 million headquarters of North Haven construction parts manufacturer Sustainable Building Solutions; the opening of Scottish power company Renewable Resources in Stamford; the construction of the New Britain-to-Hartford busway; and the Plainfield Renewable Energy biomass plant.  The report indicated that Connecticut had 50 projects in progress.

Connecticut was the only New England state in the top 10. Leading the states was California with 25,354 jobs followed by Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Connecticut, Arizona, New York, Michigan, Texas, and Oregon.

As a region, the Southeast led the country in manufacturing-related clean energy job announcements, with more than 13,700 jobs announced last year, accounting for about 80 percent of the nation’s total. Solar, advanced vehicles and wind energy were the leading clean energy manufacturing industries in the Southeast.  Nationwide, clean transportation projects led the job growth last year, followed by clean power generation, manufacturing and energy efficiency projects.

The report was issued by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), described as “a national community of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity.”