As state unemployment hovers at above 10 percent, new study finds that strong energy and climate policies could create significant numbers of jobs in Indiana – especially in manufacturing
Strong federal clean energy and climate policies could create up to 117,000 jobs in Indiana by 2030, according to a new study by the Apollo Alliance. Many of these jobs would be created in the manufacturing sector, which has been decimated in Indiana with the downturn of the U.S. auto industry.
“The job-creation potential of clean energy and climate policies is impressive,” said Matt Mayrl, policy director at the Apollo Alliance and one of the report’s authors. “With Indiana still suffering from a 10.1 percent unemployment rate, the state’s businesses, workers and stagnant economy cannot afford another year without strong national clean energy and climate policies.”
The report, How to Keep Creating Clean Energy Jobs in Indiana, examines the impact of several clean energy and climate policies on employment in Indiana. Many of these policies are under consideration in the U.S. Senate, which failed to act on any energy or climate policies before it adjourned for summer recess.
The report finds that implementation of the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act, a domestic clean energy manufacturing bill, would create between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs in Indiana over ten years; a renewable energy standard of 25 percent by 2025 combined with stronger domestic supply chains to ensure domestic suppliers fully meet the new demand created under the RES could create up to 39,000 manufacturing jobs in Indiana by 2025; vehicle efficiency standards paired with investments in domestic advanced vehicle manufacturing could create up to 19,000 manufacturing jobs in Indiana by 2020; and a cap on carbon emissions combined with key energy efficiency provisions would create 7,280 jobs in Indiana by 2030.
“If the U.S. Senate does not make another attempt to pass clean energy and climate policies when it returns to session in September, Indiana will miss out on an historic opportunity to put tens of thousands of Hoosiers back to work in a new generation of quality clean energy jobs,” said Andrea Alderson-Bazemore, the coordinator of the Indiana Apollo Alliance.
Even without strong national or state-level clean energy measures, Indiana’s clean energy jobs have been growing at a fast clip – 17.9 percent between 1998 and 2007, according to a June 2009 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Wind manufacturer Brevini is opening a plant in Muncie. Abound Solar is setting up shop in a former Getrag Transmission plant that has been vacant since 2008. Allison Transmission is creating jobs manufacturing hybrid vehicles.
“Policies that drive clean energy demand are key to reviving Indiana’s economy and creating high-quality jobs for the people of our state,” said Jason Jason Haltom, business manager at IBEW Local 481 and a member of the Indiana Apollo Alliance steering committee. “Clean energy success stories are already cropping up around the state—including among IBEW workers who are finding work in areas like solar panel installation—but these would be much more widespread with the right state and federal policies.”
How to Keep Creating Clean Energy Jobs in Indiana is available at www.apolloalliance.org/reports
CONTACT: Andrea Alderson-Bazemore (317) 869-5891; bazemore@apolloalliance.org
or Andrea Buffa (415) 371-1700 x209; buffa@apolloalliance.org
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The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of unlikely and diverse interests – including labor, business, environmental, and community leaders – advancing a bold vision for the next American economy centered on clean energy and good jobs.
