Vermont Green Economy Growing Faster Than Other Sectors of the Economy

Vermont Public Radio reports on a new study by the Pew Charitable Trust, which found that green jobs in Vermont are growing faster than other sectors of the economy. The Clean Energy Economy report concluded that the green job market in Vermont expanded by more than 15 percent between 1998 and 2007. That was above the national average and almost double the overall rate of job growth in the state during the same period.

According to the Pew Center press release, the State of Vermont has among the highest shares of jobs in the clean energy economy relative to the total number of jobs in the state. In 2007 more than 2,000 people were employed in the clean energy economy in Vermont.

The Pew Center concluded that “a clean energy economy generates jobs, businesses and investments while expanding clean energy production, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and conserving water and other natural resources.” The Pew Center divided the clean energy job market into five categories: (1) clean energy, (2) energy efficiency, (3) environmentally friendly production, (4) conservation and pollution mitigation, and (5) training and support.

VPR interviewed Kil Huh, the project director at the Pew Center. He reported that most of Vermont's new green jobs are in the conservation and pollution mitigation category, including recycling and other waste repurposing activities.