
South Carolina's recent leap into forming new green, renewable energy jobs has begun to really soar, the Charleston Business Journal reports.
At the state's Renewable Energy Forum, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham stirred the crowd with his opening remarks.
"Clean energy is not something we talk about in South Carolina, but it’s something we’re doing," he stated.
South Carolina has created about 3,000 jobs related to renewable energy and green power since 2008, representing a solid return on an initial $1.4 billion investment, the news provider stated.
The jobs have also been beneficial in bringing in outside businesses to the state, and have led to a proposal for the reorganization of state government agencies, in which the South Carolina Energy Office could join forces with the Commerce Department.
"Energy would give us another tool in our toolbox," George Patrick, deputy secretary of the S.C. Department of Commerce, told the news provider.
The Center for Hydrogen Research estimates that up to 90,000 green jobs are currently available in South Carolina.
South Carolina is looking into biomass, wind, solar, small hydropower, hydrogen and geothermal energy sources, according to the state's Energy Office.

