Report: Clean energy transition to create 500,000 to 600,000 new jobs to be created in solar, wind and battery storage industries

A new report released by the American Clean Power Association (ACP) says 500,000 to 600,000 new jobs could be created through the solar, wind, and battery storage industries as the country moves toward clean energy to reduce carbon emissions.

The 2021 Clean Energy Labor Supply report, prepared for ACP by BW Research Partnership, adds that higher-than-average pay and significant union coverage are key aspects of the clean energy employment future over the next decade.

“Clean energy jobs are quality jobs, and America is about to create a lot more of them as we work together to achieve our country’s economic and climate goals. Clean power workers make a good wage, operate in safe and healthy conditions, and are part of a dynamic and growing industry that is making America a safer, healthier, and cleaner place. One of the biggest challenges to meeting the Biden administration’s clean energy goals will be getting enough people trained and added to the workforce as quickly as possible. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for massive job creation, with high demand for a diversity of roles in manufacturing, construction, project development, and operations,” Heather Zichal, CEO of ACP, said.

Currently, there are more than 415,000 jobs in the wind, solar, and energy storage workforce. Achieving 50 to 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030 would create another 500,000 to 600,000 jobs across the solar, wind, and battery storage industries, the report found.

Manufacturing (38 percent), professional service (25 percent), and construction (21 percent) sectors would see the majority of job growth. Specifically, wind turbine technicians, solar photovoltaic installers, semiconductor processing technicians, metal fabricators, and electricians will be in high demand, spread across the country. Wind technicians will experience the greatest increase in workers. They made an average of $59,340 in 2020. Demand for electrical and civil engineers will also be high. Also, many of the clean energy jobs created by 2030 will be in industries with high unionization rates.

Most wind industry jobs created — roughly 80 to 90 percent — will be in construction or manufacturing. In the solar sector, roughly 16 percent of jobs created are in construction. For battery storage, roughly a quarter of jobs will be in manufacturing, with an additional 17 percent in construction.

In addition, the report said there should be significant gaps in the supply of wind turbine technicians, PV installers, semiconductor technicians, metal fabricators and fitters, and electricians and electrician helpers. Filling these supply gaps will require effort across the workforce development system, from community colleges, labor unions, non-profits, vocational training programs, and other providers.