California is leading other U.S. states in energy efficiency jobs as many of 2.25 million Americans are working in the field of energy efficiency in the U.S. west coastal state, a Bay Area radio reported over the the weekend.
The KCBS radio that serves the San Francisco Bay Area quoted a study of Environmental Entrepreneurs, also known as E2, as saying that California ranks No. 1 with more than 310,000 jobs created in the energy efficiency sector, which includes positions associated with Energy Star and efficient light jobs, renewable heating and cooling, advanced building materials and insulation.
Those jobs account for more than one in six construction workers in the United States, according to the E2 study.
"That's as many people as there are school teachers in America... That's twice as many people as there are working in law enforcement in America," Bob Keefe, an E2 executive director told the radio.
He said California's pending legislation including a bill that would require 100 percent clean energy is the reason why the state is thriving, which drives economic opportunities and job growth in the state's efficiency sector.
"It's creating jobs that are needed all across this state, and that's very important," Keefe said. "These jobs are driving innovation."
"States that have the best clean energy policies are going to create the most jobs in clean energy sectors," said Keefe.
California has the best energy efficiency standards and building standards in the United States, which requires buildings to be more efficient and in return saves a lot of money for the owners of these buildings, Keefe said.
The E2 study finds that twice as many workers in the United States are employed in energy efficiency jobs than are employed by all fossil fuel sectors combined.
Editor:Cherie
