Wisconsin To Add 1,000 Clean Energy Jobs This Year

A study by the Clean Energy Trust found that nearly 25,000 Wisconsinites work in the clean energy sector. Most of them have jobs related to energy efficiency.

The study projects Wisconsin will add 1,000 new clean energy jobs this year, but the sector still makes up only 0.87 percent of the state’s total workforce. That is the smallest proportion in the midwest.

Gail Parson with the environmental advocacy group E2 said job growth is linked directly to policy.

“You can look at Wisconsin for instance, who has already met their renewable energy standard goals but the future of policy is uncertain and that could be impacting their overall job growth,” she said.

Last month, Republican Gov. Scott Walker ordered state agencies to stop any preparations for the president’s Clean Power Plan requiring power plants to reduce emissions.