By Kate Ellis, senior policy associate, Fresh Energy

Earlier this month, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released the findings of a report they commissioned on the job impacts of a federal renewable electricity standard (RES).  The “Jobs Impact of a National Renewable Electricity Standard” study, conducted by independent, third-party researchers at Navigant Consulting, Inc., found that a 25 percent by 2025 national RES would result in 274,000 more renewable energy jobs over business as usual.

Additionally, the report found that by passing a federal RES of 25 percent by 2025 the United States would ensure a stable market for renewable generation, avoiding near term fluxuations in the market due to the uncertain future financial security created by policy gaps.  In order to create a stable market, the report recommends short-term federal RES goals of 12 percent in 2014 and 20 percent in 2020 in addition to the overall 25 percent by 2025 goal.

Another important finding of the report was that the entire U.S. will see job gains from a federal RES. The southeastern region of the United States stands to gain from a federal RES by producing energy from biomass and hydropower in addition to the possibility of offshore wind. While the entire country would see job creation from a federal RES, the report also found that if a federal RES is not enacted, some states – mostly in the Midwest – will experience a decrease in clean energy jobs from current levels.

For more information or to read the entire study, click here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 10:20 am by Fresh Energy and is filed under Energy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.