
The green energy sector employs more people than fossil fuel industries in the United States, with most renewable energy jobs located in metropolitan areas, according to a recent Brookings Institution report, "Sizing the Clean Economy."
The clean economy employs 2.7 million Americans, according to the report, with the solar, wind, fuel cell, smart grid and biofuel industries growing especially fast. Among the jobs created by these clean power generation technologies between 2003 and 2010, 75 percent were located in the 100 largest U.S. metro areas.
While green energy jobs are located overwhelmingly in cities, the nature of these jobs differs by location. The report said New York City and San Francisco are centers of "service-oriented" green tech jobs related to public transportation, while jobs in Midwestern and Southern cities like Louisville, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas, are related to manufacturing. Atlanta and Portland have "balanced" profiles, blending service, manufacturing and public sector jobs.
To continue green energy job growth, Brookings recommended the federal government conduct further research to understand the regional characteristics of renewable power industries and tailor support accordingly. However, the report said private investment will play the biggest role in growing the clean economy.
Underscoring the importance of private enterprise, Vice President Joe Biden recently announced that a number of green energy companies used federal dollars as a springboard to secure more than $100 million from private investors.

