Clean Energy Jobs | Opportunities for Industry and Business | Costs of Inaction
Less Carbon, More Jobs: This map locates some of the hundreds of clean energy businesses in Michigan.Clean energy already provides thousands of Michigan workers with good jobs during hard times. This fact sheet collects several sources of information showing how accelerating the clean-energy transition will benefit Michigan's economy — and, conversely, the costs and consequences of failing to act.
This map1 tells the story of existing companies across Michigan that will get new customers and create jobs with a cap on carbon.2
Profiles of Clean Energy Businesses in Michigan
Azure Dynamics in Detroit, Hemlock Semiconductor in Hemlock, Insulspan in Blissfield, and Dowding Machining in Eaton Rapids are four of the many businesses already flourishing from the rising interest in clean energy. Read their stories to learn more about clean energy jobs.3
The Clean Energy Economy [PDF]
The clean energy industry in Michigan is booming (job growth of 10.7%) even while overall job growth is declining (job losses of 3.6%). By 2007, 1,932 businesses had generated more than 22,600 Michigan jobs [PDF] in the clean energy economy, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Venture capitalists are investing over $55 million in Michigan's clean energy businesses.4
| Clean Businesses (2007) | Clean Jobs (2007) | Clean Job Growth (1998-2007) |
Overall Job Growth (1998-2007) |
Venture Capital (2006-2008) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 1,932 | 22,674 | 10.7% | -3.6% | $55,099,000 |
Both the Department of Energy and McKinsey and Company have identified significant, untapped opportunities for key industries in Michigan to prosper under a clean energy economy.
According to a June 2009 report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, inaction on global warming will cause significant harm to the Midwest.9 The University of Maryland has concluded that these effects have heavy economic consequences for Michigan.10
The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that global warming will hurt the health of Michigan's citizens [PDF], as well as its transportation infrastructure.11 And the National Wildlife Federation shows how global warming will damage the 35,226 jobs provided by Michigan's hunting and angling industries [PDF].12
A nationwide cap on greenhouse gas emissions would jumpstart a new energy economy in Michigan and accelerate the growth of good-paying, clean jobs. If we fail to act soon, the new markets for clean energy will grow overseas instead.
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