Tennessee Tops in Clean Energy Job Creation
Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 11:55am
NASHVILLE- Governor Phil Bredesen was joined by members of the Pew Charitable Trusts and Commissioner Matt Kisber of the Department of Economic and Community Development Thursday to acknowledge Tennessee’s top national ranking in clean energy job creation. A report released by Pew on June 10 stated jobs in Tennessee’s emerging clean energy economy grew more than seven times faster than the state’s overall jobs between 1998 and 2007.
Governor Bredesen spoke about the importance of such an accomplishment for the State of Tennessee.
“Tennessee has worked hard to be a leader in the clean energy sector and it's clear from the Pew report that our efforts are yielding dividends in job creation,” said Bredesen. “Expanding our focus on energy efficiency, renewable power production and other clean energy activities is helping jumpstart our state's economy, and it happens to be the right thing to do for the environment. I'm proud that the Volunteer State is leading the way in growing the clean energy economy.”
The Pew Center reports more than 15,000 jobs were created in Tennessee by the year 2007. Bredesen highlighted the diversity of job opportunities offered to Tennesseans in the clean energy field.
“I think the best thing about clean energy jobs is that they are incredibly diverse,” Bredesen said. “They range from research to manufacturing, from engineering to installing, and the list goes on from there. There’s a host of opportunities for Tennesseans with all kinds of backgrounds in this sector.”
Bredesen also stressed the prestige of being linked to a nationally recognized organization such as the Pew Center.
“It is gratifying when a globally recognized organization like Pew, with the amount of resources and especially credibility it has, steps forward to validate the work we’re doing in this clean energy job creation,” Bredesen said. “It’s kind of a ‘Good Housekeeping’ seal of approval for us.
“I believe we’re just in the start of what is possible. We have a very bright future ahead of us.”
Since the report, which covers the years 1998 through 2007, Tennessee has announced two major alternative energy solar projects totaling over $3 billion in investment. Bredesen said that the capital investment in these projects already shows the difference energy efficient initiatives are making in Tennessee’s economy.
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