by Chris de Morsella, Green Economy Post Chris is the co-editor of The Green Executive Recruiter Directory. Follow Chris on Twitter @greeneconpost
The Pew Charitable Trusts “Clean Energy Economy Report“ found that in 2007 Delaware reported 211 cleantech businesses that provided 2,368 green jobs. Over the decade 1998-2007 employment in the Delaware cleantech sector dropped by 2.3 %, which was still better than the overall employment figures, which shrank by 8.9% over the same period. Over the two year period (2006-2008) Illinois saw around $3.4 million of venture capital invested in its cleantech sector.
Renewable Energy and Energy EfficiencyJobs in Delaware
In 2009 there were 18 renewable energy companies in the state and 672 people were directly or indirectly employed in renewable energy.
Delaware is planning an offshore wind farm, the 450 MW Bluewater Project, which has no near-term completion date. In addition, The University of Delaware and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have announced a five year partnership to develop a shallow-water research zone where companies can test offshore wind technologies. The Dover SUN Park will be the state’s first utility-scale solar project, with 10 MW of capacity, to be completed in 2011.
After becoming the world’s first laboratory dedicated to PV research and development in 1972, the University of Delaware has been responsible for a number of ground-breaking innovations in the solar PV industry throughout the years. Although plans had been announced in 2009 to close Delaware’s MW General Electric solar manufacturing facility, it will now remain open and be owned by a Taiwan-based company. The deal saved approximately 70 jobs and plans have been announced to hire an additional 75 people.
The 2009 enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 106 by the Delaware General Assembly created an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS), a least-cost energy efficiency policy mechanism requiring electricity and natural gas savings throughout the State. The legislation mandates a 15% reduction in Delaware electricity consumption and a 10% reduction in natural gas consumption by 2015, relative to 2007 levels of energy use. The passage of the policy, in concert with a proven record of leadership in renewable energy and innovation in the provision of sustainable energy services, establishes Delaware as an aggressive leader among states in achieving a cost-effective, secure, and environmentally responsible energy future.
CEEP researchers estimate the investment required to reach the Green Target would generate more than 7,000 new jobs in Delaware, and financial savings from avoided electricity costs at $1.9 billion by 2015, and savings from avoided natural gas costs at $546 million.
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