Midwest Sees Surge in Clean Energy Jobs

The Midwest added more than 28,000 clean energy jobs in 2018, resulting in a 4 percent growth rate, according to a recent report released by national advocacy groups Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs.

The 12 Midwestern states employed more than 737,000 workers in the clean energy industry last year, with 71.5 percent of those jobs falling under the category of energy efficiency.

The report looks at employment in the following clean energy sectors: energy efficiency, renewable energy generation (including solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy and low-impact hydroelectric power), advanced transportation, advanced grid and clean fuels.

The authors note that the industry is expected to grow by 7 percent in 2019, which would far exceed the national growth rate of 3.6 in 2018.

"This report indicates that the Midwest is creating jobs in the clean energy industry more quickly than the rest of the country--a sign that the Midwest is a good place for clean energy business to grow," said Erik Birkerts, CEO of Clean Energy Trust, according to The Missouri Times.

Besides its tens of thousands of energy efficiency jobs, which range from installing efficient lighting systems in buildings to building heating and cooling systems that run on renewable energy sources, the Midwest's renewable energy sector also contributed to its clean energy growth.

While the percentage of renewable energy jobs decreased at the national level in 2018, jobs in this sector grew by nearly 3 percent in the Midwest.

Here's a breakdown of clean energy jobs in the Midwest by state:

Michigan boasts the most clean energy jobs in the region, with 126,081 jobs and a 4 percent growth rate from 2017 to 2018. The state's alternative transportation sector experienced the most growth, with a 16 percent job increase.

According to the report, advanced transportation was responsible for 12,000 new jobs across the region, which also saw an 80 percent increase in electrical vehicle sales.

Illinois ranked No. 2 for the most clean energy jobs, with its growth encouraged by its Future Energy Jobs Act, signed by Former Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2016. Under the legislation, Illinois will acquire a quarter of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025.

With nearly than 112,500 jobs, Ohio's clean energy industry employs the third-most number of people in the Midwest. The Buckeye State experienced a 4.6 increase in clean energy jobs in 2018, which outpaces the Midwestern region's average and is also three-times faster than the national growth rate.