‘Clean-energy’ jobs rising ahead of predictions

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s ‘clean-energy’ economy generated remarkable job growth over the last 12 months, according to the recently released Rhode Island Clean Energy 2016 Industry Report.

Employment across the state’s clean-energy firms increased by 40 percent over 2015, far exceeding last year’s projected growth of 17 percent. Clean-energy jobs now support about 14,000 workers across the state.

Energy-efficiency technologies currently represent six in 10 clean-energy workers; these firms increased employment by 57 percent, adding almost 3,000 new jobs across the state.

However, the state’s energy-efficiency sector is experiencing some barriers to growth due to the region’s insufficient labor market, the report stated.

- Advertisement -

Though currently only 14 percent of the clean-energy workforce, renewable energy employment almost doubled over 2015. The workforce grew by 84 percent in just 12 months, creating 907 new jobs.

The report was prepared by BW Research Partnership for the Rhode Island Commerce Corp. and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. •

No posts to display