New solar job statistics published, are but other renewables grow, to

Washngton, D.C. non-profit The Solar Foundation just released its National Solar Jobs Census 2013, whichis the fourth annual update of current employment and projected growth in the United States solar industry. Their data for Census 2013 is derived from a statistically valid sampling and comprehensive survey of 15,437 employers throughout the nation.

The Foundation’s conclusion: “Our research shows that solar industry employment has grown by an astonishing 53 percent — or nearly 50,000 new solar jobs — since we first started tracking them in 2010. Leading this growth are businesses in the installation sector, in which solar employment has grown by nearly 60 percent over the four-year period covered by the Census series, representing more than 25,000 jobs created in the sector since 2010.”

As of November 2013, the solar industry has grown to 142,698 solar workers, which is nearly 20 percent greater than the 2012 solar jobs figures and over ten times the growth that the overall U.S. economy experienced during that same time. Over the next 12 months, nearly 45 percent of solar establishments expect to add jobs, while less than 1.9 percent expect to cut workers, yielding an expected 15.6 percent growth in employment.

The study goes on to say:

Solar jobs increased nearly 20 percent since the fall of 2012, which is ten times the national average job growth rate. There are 142,698 solar workers in the United States, up from 119,016 in 2012. Not only did the industry exceed growth expectations, but the hiring pace has quickened, at a rate 50 percent higher than last year, suggesting that the trajectory for growth is even stronger than previously expected. Seventy-seven percent of the nearly 24,000 new solar workers are new jobs (rather than existing positions that have added solar responsibilities), representing 18,211 new jobs created. Since data were collected for Census 2012, one in every 142 new jobs in the U.S. were created by the solar industry.

Solar employment is expected to grow by 15.6 percent over the next year, representing the addition of approximately 22,240 new solar workers. Forty-five percent of all solar establishments expect to have added solar employees by November 2014.

Two-thirds of new solar hires are living-wage installation jobs. Installers added the most solar workers over the past year, growing by 22 percent, an increase of 12,500 workers. Installer jobs, which cannot be outsourced and earn an average of $23.63 per hour, are expected to increase nearly 15,000 next year. This represents a 21 percent year-over-year growth rate. And the report notes that, ”Nineteen percent of all solar workers are women, representing 26,738 solar workers, and one in six solar workers is Latino or Hispanic. With 13,192 U.S. veterans working at solar establishments across the United States, the solar industry is also exceeding the percentage of veterans employed in the broader U.S. workforce.

Solar is not the only clean energy job creator.

Wind: According to a 2012 American Wind Energy Association report, the number of wind-related jobs in the U.S. at the end of 2012, across fields such as development, siting, construction, transportation, manufacturing, operations, services reached 80,700. According to some other 2012 sources, there are 75,000 jobs across the wind industry,

Iowa ranked number one with their significant new wind capacity installed during 2011. Texas, the state with the most wind capacity installed, took the number two spot for wind employment with its continued growth in new wind capacity, established manufacturing.

Illinois, driven by one of the strongest levels of new wind installations during 2011 as well as a strong manufacturing sector, took the number three spot for wind industry employment in 2011. Ohio moved into the number four spot in 2011 with its strong base of wind manufacturing and supply chain jobs, which are now combined with new development and construction jobs. And "Colorado ranked number five in the nation, with an increasing number of manufacturing jobs in the state as well as large installation in the third quarter.”

The Environment Energy Study Institute(EESI) publishes a job fact sheet, and some highlights include:

Hydropower: Navigant Consulting estimated 200,000-300,000 direct jobs currently in the hydropower industry. This estimate assumes 2-3 full-time equivalents per megawatt (MW) to maintain, operate, and license compliance for the existing 100,000-MW fleet.

Geothermal: The Geothermal Energy Association’s latest estimate of the industry was 5,200 direct jobs as of 2010. Indirect and induced jobs were estimated at 13,100 jobs. Geothermal industry employment is expected to increase by 2,805 jobs this year. In 2008, GEA estimated that direct employment was 4,583 jobs, and induced jobs totaled 11,460 and by 2012, 25,000 jobs.

Biomass: The Biomass Power Association estimates that the biopower industry provides 14,000 jobs in the United States. In 2008, the U.S. biodiesel industry maintained 51,893 jobs. Approximately 70,400 Americans are employed directly by the ethanol industry, with an additional 400,677 indirect and induced jobs being produced.

And, let’s not forget energy efficiency. In 2008, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that 380,000 people were employed in the energy efficiency services sector. Energy Efficiency Services Sector (EESS) is defined as “multi-disciplinary sector that address the design and construction of homes and buildings, and the installation, use, and maintenance of high-efficiency equipment and technologies in homes, buildings, and industrial processes. The EESS includes engineers, designers, economists, marketers, and trades people."

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), robust investment in energy efficiency could save $1.2 trillion by 2020, and the United States could create 1.3 to 1.9 million jobs by 2050 through the deployment of energy efficient technologies. Similarly, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) projects 1.3 million jobs by 2030, according to the report “Energy Efficiency Services Sector: Workforce Size and Expectations for Growth.”

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), created by the G-8, is an intergovernmental organization that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and they released an international jobs study at the end of 2013.

“The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 5.7 million people worldwide were employed in the renewable energy sector, directly and indirectly, in 2012. The largest number of jobs is found in biofuels and solar photovoltaic, 1.38 million and 1.36 million, respectively," according to IRENA. "The solar heating/cooling, wind power and biomass (heat and power) industries each employ several hundred thousand people. By comparison, biogas, geothermal energy, small hydropower and concentrated solar power are much smaller employers. Generally, better information is available for electricity-generating renewable energy technologies than for those relating to transportation and heating/cooling.”

What differentiates energy efficiency and renewable energy from the more traditional centralized fuels is that the energy generation, distribution, integration, installation and service is much more distributed and distributed evenly across the United State (or for that matter, the world). Whether it’s energy produced along electric transmission lines, electric distribution lines, natural gas pipelines and landfills, behind the corporate or facility fence, or on-in-or near a building — its decentralization (just like cellular towers) is just a natural jobs multiplier.

Just like we have climate change deniers, we have clean energy deniers — but this job growth is just too hard to deny.

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Do green jobs in any other color?

The environmental and energy study Institute just a crammed five-page Datasheet on energy efficiency and renewable energy jobs. National and State numbers from different sources carry the punch, that in the year 2012 alone, there were more than 110,000 jobs in the clean energy.

It refers definition and their calculation on the Bureau of Labor Statistics green jobs of 3.4 million green jobs in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2011. Some of the figures going back three or four years; Some figures are forecasts.

The result is considerable, which sum up green jobs and contribute to a rebounding economy. So, let's Herald this message and creeping over the hyped expectation green jobs to stop.

I often see Dr. Sarah White strategy targeting the center of Wisconsin. In November last year Sarah workforce education conference with this Sage spoke to our clean energy statement: "green jobs are not a myth, not a failed initiative, she simply got mixed with a failed economy."

As visionary, Dr. Debra Rowe predicted that "A green touch to have any job."

And that's exactly what we see.

There are green jobs as obvious System Installer, energy auditors, and designer. And there is a growing span of jobs which mix green skills with traditional. Therefore, we are at meeting with groups such as the refrigeration service engineers society, the air conditioning contractors of America, the International Association of electrical inspectors and International Association of plumbing and mechanical officials to name of a few.

We see green skills training mix in other educational programs. Hudson Valley Community College surrounded by two new PV courses, two-year degree can be taken in the context of their existing associate in occupational studies. Lane Community College created a renewable energy technician option as part of its two-year associate in science degree programme applied for energy management engineers. Trading add training programs, their basic training training options such as photovoltaics.

This does not mean that we stop tracking, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The solar Foundation census reports are crucial for the matching jobs with market growth.

It means that it's time to look beyond the obvious - other indicators, the green jobs in other colours come.

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Hainan Province of China is considering electric vehicle demonstration project

Beijing-industry leaders and experts were all positive for the future of Hainan Province electric vehicles market in 2012 world's new energy vehicle (GNEV) Conference in Boao and Haikou, Hainan Province, China in January two cities instead. Experts pointed out, an electric vehicle demo Island to make the challenges and opportunities of the province, and said further research along with favorable government policy is necessary.

The province is expected to improve its infrastructure for energy talks and electric vehicles with the construction of 14 special charging stations, 30 recharge battery-swap stations and 3,000 rushing Poland 24 simple charging stations by 2013 after Chen Wanxin, Vice-Director of the provincial Ministry of industry and information technology. This would save an estimated 10,000 electric vehicles until the year 2015 on the provincial roads serve dangers 7.8 million liters of fuel per year. This ambitious goal of 10,000 vehicles is half of the new energy vehicles of all China's roads today and is very likely to Hainan, which make such vehicles to keep highest density.

Wang Lu, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese people's political Consultative Conference of Hainan Province, said at the opening the province of growth of the sector sees long-term growth electric vehicles as one of their most important strategies for the province as a whole, since the sector give a powerful impetus to the local economy. He continued that Hainan is process of building of automotive of industrial park, under the direction of FAW Haima, where more advanced core technologies with respect to electric vehicles, batteries, motors and electrical controls, as well as the research and development of technical metrics for industry standards will be introduced. This is set to pure electric vehicles to promote the commercial exploitation and industrialization of the plug-in. Zone in the northwestern part of the province, and a 330,000 square metre plot of land for the development of electric vehicles in Wanning, a city in the South-Eastern coast of the province is also reserved for the automotive industry the province plans for a 2.7 million square feet of space in the Lingao Jinpaigang industrial.

According to the provincial energy conservation and demonstration programme of eclectic vehicles is Haikou developed into a leading research, development, manufacturing and testing center for energy saving and electric vehicles by 2015. The vehicles are on track are widely accepted by the public transport system and other sectors, including Government cars. In addition, there is the use of electric vehicles in line with the environmental requirements of the province of destination of an international tourism island.

Above all, many domestic automakers were generally optimistic, what the province-electric vehicles market, with some their move of them already made. Haima, the only complete vehicles manufacturer in the province, developed electric vehicles for six years (since 2006). Min Jiang, an engineer in product planning, technological research center of JAC, a Chinese national car manufacturer, said that Hainan Province already has all the right elements for the development of an electric car industry. She also have other automakers said commercial investment and establishing facilities as soon as the Government confirmed it with a focus on public buses for transport and tourism, and will hold a transparent blueprint for the support of the industry shows.

Renewable energy industry weighs for Obama win

Salt Lake City, UT--with the 2012 election over and President Barack Obama secured re-election, producers of renewable energy already provided search us, what they expect will be four more years of more support for their efforts.

A collective sigh of relief

According to Ed Feo, co-founder of USRG renewable finance (USRGRF), the last night of Obama brings victory "a continuation of politics, which are favourable to renewable energy." FEO is also, that one of the most important imminent expiration of wind power emits production tax credit on December 31 to the hand as one, as a consequence of the election result will probably robust support. "I think that will promote Obama management for the" FEO said.

FEO is not the only one that Obama to take victory as a new breath of life for a group of industries is 2012 can be occurred which during certain points concerning future during the election campaign. For Scott Sklar, President of the Stella group, the Obama has re-election "consequential positive impact on growth and development of the U.S.-energy efficiency and renewable energy."

"The President clean energy, one of the best three planks of his Administration has made," said Sklar in a press release today. "The President has extension of the wind energy production tax credit, supports, while his opponents the extension against and green jobs called, 'Imagination'." Sklar is forecasting double-digit growth in the market overall renewable energy as a result of ongoing procurement for energy efficiency of federal and national Governments, and shows announced report, the $282 billion of global private investments in 2012, as evidence of massive worldwide interest in renewables status on the this year's REN21 renewables global.

Industry experts give renewed hope

Rhone Resch, CEO of the solar energy industries Association (SEIA), shares the Sklar optimism and gets Obama "huge trailer of solar energy." Resch sees a continuation of support for solar power from the Obama management, he says that this significantly, the industry has been job growth. "Today, the solar industry employs more than 119,000 Americans at 5,600 companies, mostly small businesses in all 50 States - which is more than twice as many Americans in solar in 2009 work" Resch said in a press release published today.

Resch added that since Obama of the election in 2008, "the height the solar vehicle drive real estate, businesses and military bases of 1,100 megawatts in 2008 on more than 400 percent today - has 5,700 megawatts." "The Government issued a policy to allow the solar systems for the first time on public lands and target a large drivers of this growth was used to allow additional renewable energy projects on public land, to 10 gigawatts by the end of 2012." Resch cited also that figures show U.S. solar installations in 2012 will be "another year of record growth" for the solar industry.

Finding support from both sides of the political corridor, Denise Bode, CEO who was American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), which recently reported in 2012, the most profitable year for the U.S. wind industry, pointed to the last night renewal House representative Dave Reichert (R - WA), Steve King (R - IA), Tom Latham (R - IA) and Senator Dean Heller (R - NV) as positive steps for the wind industry. All four have offered support to the wind energy initiatives and potentially critical player for the extension of the PTC. "We saw election results, to authorize the Americans with an overwhelming majority of wind energy, and they vote for politicians who support them in the" bode said.

Addressing certain hurdles, the still in the way of the wind energy PTC's extension also lack of commitment under leadership in the House of representatives and suggestions that the PTC can only be extended if the tax credit finally expiring on agreement is available, said bode, "wind power will forever need a tax credit not." Bode added, "when the production tax credit for wind, wind support are the only energy source without federal income tax and that would be bad policy." Bode and the AWEA remain nevertheless optimistic that Obama provides the re-election, that the necessary leadership to ensure government support continued.

"We have more work to do"

Echo of Obama the words during his victory speech in Chicago last night - where the President "we have declared supporters, to do a lot" - FEO pointed out, that although profits are made, there is more to support the renewable energy initiatives to be carried out. "We need to expand financing instruments that represent other sectors - such as master limited partnerships - on renewable energy," said FEO.

Also, FEO stressed the need for investment in renewable energy by extending an incentive and continuous support the credit control systems such as PTC, and the investment tax credit (ITC) - the latter of which is planned, to see a significant decline in percentage terms at the end of 2016. "I think the Obama administration will push to extend or retain some support," said FEO.

Perhaps as a sign that it is not only the area of which, continued coal shares renewable energy that takes Obama seriously on his intention, the pursuit of more clean energy initiatives a steep jump on Wednesday after the election results. This news is no surprise that consciously the Obama plans stricter rules for oil and coal producers in his second term, including new EPA forced limits on CO2 emissions for coal-powered power plants, and even stricter restrictions on mercury and sulphur dioxide, is expected which to cause a sharp rise in the cost of the combustion of coal.

Assess production in Shreveport, La., resume, g.m. as other situation

But the automaker also noted that some time may have other plants in the weeks.

Meanwhile, the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Group each said they were restrict dealer orders for some vehicles in specific metallic colors - usually red and black - because a Japanese plant, which used pigment provides in its color will be closed is expected for at least a month.

The g.m plant, the 925 in Shreveport, La., was the first website in the United States where stopped vehicle Assembly due to one of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. G.m also temporarily released 59 persons at an engine plant near the city of Buffalo.

G.m executives refused to say whether she not specified more the part had received, had caused the shutdown. The Shreveport facility makes the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, two g.m's slower selling truck.

"We have to use enough material, so we will continue production," said Kim Carpenter, a spokeswoman for g.m.

G.m said its North American operations would be as the Monday full functional – for the time being at least.

"We are constantly review the situation and demand adjustments in our businesses around the world expect," g.m said in a statement.

"These customizations can include the use of the parts, the optimization - or are - in short supply, changes to production schedules and temporary suspension of the production."

Chrysler dealers said on Friday that they would limit orders for vehicles in 10 colors, including "Blackberry pearl", "deep cherry red" and "robust Brown."

A dye called Xirallic, which is made by the German chemical company Merck in a work, since it is close to the crippled nuclear power station Fukushima Daiichi finished contain the colors.

"We expect that we currently have existing customers proper days supply orders and are this measure as a precautionary measure," said Katie Hepler, a spokeswoman for Chrysler. "At this time we expect not production effects as a result of this action."

Ford said its dealers on Thursday that she was limit orders for vehicles in three red tones and "black Tuxedo".

"We expect no loss of production at that time, as one of this situation," wrote Ken Czubay Ford's Vice President for United States sales, marketing and service, a memo to dealers.

G.m refused to say whether the pigment would interfere with lack of availability of its vehicles.

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Intervene plan to pursue Chevron in other countries

The latest salvo come just one day after an Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron, one of the largest environmental awards at all to pay suggests that the dispute between villagers and oil executives, 1993 began, yet long not past.

The case stems from oil pollution in the Ecuadorian rainforest, but Chevron does not work and has no significant assets of the country. It was Texaco the Chevron take a merger in 2001, was accused of widespread environmental damage taken, before the off of Ecuador in the early 1990s.

Chevron has much larger operations elsewhere in Latin America and the applicant pursues the company throughout the region could open strategy a controversial new phase in the event - an Ecuadorian political relations with its neighbours to test and would include some Washington's most prominent lobbyists and lawyers.

Consultant for the plaintiff said obvious candidates, but you was recognized that it would be easy Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela to follow Chevron assets. Venezuela is for example, a close ally of the Ecuadorian and its President Hugo Chavez is a frequent critic of the United States. But Chevron enjoys extensive operations in Venezuela and warmer ties with Mr. Chavez government as just about every other American companies.

The applicants also fight an uphill damage in the United States collect at least immediately, since the judge in New York this month temporary enforcement of Ecuador Awards prevents. However, legal adviser, said they were willing to try to damage in the United States as well as to collect.

A confidential memo, prepared by the Washington law firm Patton Boggs under court order recently put the plaintiff strategy which use a European industrial espionage company to Chevron assets around the world to examine.

"The fact that Chevron play ball in Venezuela has agreed to during the company's peers are unfavourable contractual clauses that universally rejected imposed by the Chavez Government may difficulties, interpret", said the memo, codenamed "Invictus." "However, Chavez populist Government remains a natural ally" the plaintiff.

Memo lawyers identified the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Angola, Canada and some other countries in which Chevron has significant assets as potential targets. In the Philippines it hit consultant for Patton Boggs, who recently waded in the crisis in Egypt as a delegate for the Obama administration even by using the services of the Frank G. Wisner, former diplomat and Foreign Minister.

Citing the Invictus memo, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York argues that the plaintiff wanted a "worldwide, full - court press", a settlement against a company to extract significant meaning in the provision of energy of the United States economy.

Chevron said it wanted to pay a cent. "We want to resist enforcement search everywhere, where the plaintiff to take, what we perceive to be a fraudulent judgment", Kent Robertson, a Chevron spokesman said.

Temporary protection, issued by judge Kaplan Mr. Robertson was a decision by a panel of international referee in the Hague that the company was granted a preliminary injunction that may block the execution of the judgment.

But Ecuadorian attorneys said she themselves under the jurisdiction of the American Court or the arbitrator did not.

With reference to the arbitration, a lawyer, Pablo Fajardo, said: "This is part of the Chevron legal strategy to delay and obstruct."

Duncan Hollis, Associate Dean which Temple University law school, said, it was logical that the plaintiff to take their fight to other countries in the region because "there are some similarities in Latin American legal system." But, Mr. Hollis added, "There is no international law as one court to enforce the judgments from other nation's Court."

Because now the case in the Ecuadorian courts move forward. Be three judges both appeals. The Amazon Coalition intends that amount of damages, appeal, appeal to the entire decision while Chevron.

"I don't know if we will be broadcasting" our legal argument, HR. Robertson said. But he added: "It is the illegitimate nature of the ruling." "The scientific evidence shows that a meritless result."

The final appeal will go to a national court of appeal, a process that could take months. Then the battle for several countries can move at a time. Consultant for the villagers and forest tribes, said they hoped to extract Chevron until you reach the final judgment money from many countries.

The judgement of the impact is already felt in Ecuador and also as a cautionary tale of environmental and legal aftermath of oil production. Alberto Acosta, a former oil Minister in Ecuador, called the ruling "a historical precedent."

It is "Memory", that we ourselves from the irresponsible activities of extraction companies to defend both oil and mining, said Mr. Acosta.

Simon Romero reported from Caracas and Clifford Krauss from Houston. Johannes Schwartz contributed reporting from New York and Irene Caselli from Quito, Ecuador.

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