The fledgling renewable energy industry has grown steadily over much of the past decade, adding jobs at more than twice the national rate, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study released recently.

Solar and wind-power companies, energy-efficient light bulb makers, environmental engineering firms and others expanded their work force by 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007, the latest year available, according to Pew.

The average job growth in all industries was 3.7 percent during the same period.

The entire energy sector has experienced growth in recent years as well, according to the Bureau of Labor. Bureau data shows coal mining jobs jumped 16 percent from 2003 to 2009. Oil and gas extraction jobs jumped 28 percent.

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http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090628/BUSINESS/906280360/Study-reveals-jobs-in-fledgling-renewable-energy-sector-are-growing

With his vote that helped the U.S. House narrowly approve the energy bill, U.S. Rep. Mike Castle established his reputation as moderate Republican. That is not a comfortable place to be, with conservative blogger coming up with a "Wanted Poster" and a few letter-writers from out of state expressing their anger in letters with in all capital letters. Castle did decide to issue a lengthy statement explaining the vote:

"My priorities, as I represent Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives today, begin with the economic opportunities and security for all who live here. We are facing serious challenges in both areas. With state budget shortfalls, rising unemployment and stagnant growth in many of the industries on which we typically rely-- new ideas and bold strategies for the future are required. Simultaneously, our nation's military is spread thin across the world in an effort to confront those who seek to do us harm. One major threat to our security and theirs is the current reliance we have on foreign energy sources.

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http://www.ledgerdelaware.com/articles/2009/06/28/news/doc4a48269d16023954290172.txt

UK Energy Minister Lord Hunt yesterday announced an extra 25 GW of offshore wind energy around the UK in addition to the 8 GW already built or planned.

The boost to UK offshore wind capacity, which arose from the Government’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), allows the Crown Estate to launch a third round of leasing for new wind farms.

Speaking at the British Wind Energy Association conference, he said: “We’re already the world’s number one offshore wind power. With the right support, we can grow the industry even further, supporting tens of thousands of high value, green manufacturing jobs.”

The Government estimates that offshore wind, as well as supporting the UK target of 15% renewable energy by 2020, could generate up to 70,000 new jobs and annual revenues of £8 billion.

Any new wind farms should also find it easier to connect to the national grid with the start of the new £15 billion licensing regime. The new Ofgem-administered competitive tender process could save generators around £1 billion, says the Government.

“The Crown Estate is delighted that 25 GW has been confirmed and also agreement on the ‘Go-Active’ date has been reached for the offshore transmission regime,” said Rob Hasting, director of the Marine Estate at the Crown Estate. “These are significant milestones.”

The latest round of leasing for offshore wind farms will take the total capacity to 33 GW by 2020 – a quarter of the country’s electricity demand.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth welcomed the move but is calling on the Government to secure funding for further wind expansion and develop a new supergrid.

“At last the Government is starting to recognise the enormous potential of the UK’s offshore wind power and its crucial role in slashing emissions and securing a national energy system based on clean, safe, renewable energy,” commented campaigner Nick Rau.

Lord Hunt also announced at the conference that the UK would be joining the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which it had previously refused to do in case it undermined the efforts of the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, the Government has changed tack and says it will be signing the official agreement as soon as possible.

http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/policy/i/2205/

China is planning to construct a number of 10 GW wind power bases in the coming years, in a bid to further boost the development of the country's renewable energy industry, the country's top energy official said recently.

Zhang Guobao, administrator of the National Energy Administration, said: "We have worked out the strategy of building large (wind power) bases and integrating them into the mainstream power grid in order to speed up the pace of wind power development in the country".

Vigorously developing renewable energy, including wind power, forms part of the country's ongoing strategy to contribute to the global campaign for combating climate change.

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http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/24/content_8316184.htm

By SANDY SHORE
Associated Press

Everywhere you turn there is talk of a shift to renewable energy, of building wind farms and solar plants, of making buildings more efficient, of developing biofuels. And of billions in federal funding to help make it all happen.

This should mean a whole lot of new energy jobs. So where are they — and how do I get one?

The clean energy sector has certainly been on a tear in recent years, and there will be a lot more money flowing in to meet government-backed demand.

Here's the "but":

The recession has walloped the clean energy sector like every other, and no one is going on a hiring spree right now. Companies have shelved plans for wind farms, solar parks and biofuels plants. Some have laid off workers. Others have been forced to seek bankruptcy protection.

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