PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Gina M. Raimondo released the 2019 Rhode Island Clean Energy Industry Report today, which showed that clean energy employment in the Ocean State has grown by 74 percent since 2014 and resulted in 6,802 new jobs across the state. The clean energy sector now counts for more than 16,021 green jobs in total.
"Rhode Island's clean energy economy has added jobs every year since 2014 and is poised for significant growth as our offshore wind industry takes off," said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. "The Revolution Wind project alone is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs while supporting our supply chain and bringing energy savings to our state."
"Since we started tracking clean energy jobs in Rhode Island in 2014, we have seen sustained growth in this industry," said State Energy Commissioner Carol Grant. "With more and more Rhode Islanders converting to renewable power, investing in energy efficiency measures, as well as the development of our state's new offshore industry, we should see the clean energy sector continue to thrive for years to come."
"Rhode Island ended 2018 with an all-time high number of jobs, thanks in part to the growth of the green energy economy," said Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. "Given new investments aimed at strengthening the renewable energy industry's local supply chain and developing our workforce here, Rhode Island is well-positioned to make even bigger strides in this sector going forward. We are grateful for Governor Raimondo's vision and leadership in this key area."
Key information from the report:
*Workers have increasingly becoming specialized in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, spending more of their time on clean energy-related tasks.
*The renewable and efficient heating and cooling sector showed the largest growth over the past year, adding 134 jobs.
*The state remains focused on providing opportunities for clean energy jobs training. The Oil Heat Institute of Rhode Island, which partnered with the Office of Energy Resources, received a Department of Labor and Training Real Jobs Rhode Island grant to help train delivered fuel workers for new jobs in higher-efficiency and lower-carbon heating and cooling technologies.
Download the 2019 Clean Energy Industry Report -- produced in collaboration with BW Research Partnership -- at http://www.energy.ri.gov/cleanjobs/.
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