Pew study finds strong growth in Michigan green economy

Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

Michigan's growth in clean energy jobs has outpaced the nation's since 1998, according to a Washington study.

Michigan's clean energy economy grew 10.7 percent, creating nearly 23,000 jobs, while overall jobs declined 3.6 percent in the state between 1998 and 2007, according to a report by the respected Pew Charitable Trusts.

Nationally, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a rate of 9.1 percent during the same period; total jobs grew by 3.7 percent.

"The clean energy economy is a vehicle for Michigan's economic recovery," said Kerry Ebersole, Michigan representative for the Pew Environment Group. The report is sure to buoy efforts by some state leaders, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm, to expand green industries in Michigan.

"The state ranks third in clean technology patents and has attracted $55 million in clean technology venture capital in just the past three years."

Pew claims its study is the most detailed investigation undertaken into the emerging clean energy sector.

Unlike previous studies of the "green economy," Pew's numbers are a hard count of actual jobs and business and do not rely on estimates, multipliers or projections, Ebersole said.

The report finds that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds.

Included in Pew's definition are such jobs as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants and teachers. Annual pay ranges from $21,000 to $111,000

The study said Michigan's clean energy economy should receive a boost from the recently enacted federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allocates nearly $85 billion nationwide in direct spending and tax incentives for energy- and transportation-related programs.

Despite the growth, the budding industry accounts for only 3 percent of the state's private sector work force, supporting 109,067 jobs related to the production of sustainable products or services, according to a May report authored by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

That report found 41 percent of the state's green jobs related to clean transportation and fuels. That was followed by energy efficiency, agriculture, pollution prevention and renewable energy production, such as solar and wind.

laguilar@detnews.com (313) 222-2760