Florida is missing out on clean energy jobs. That’s the finding of a new report released Wednesday.
The study was commissioned by Environmental Entrepreneurs - or E2 - a non-partisan, national community of businesspeople who promote sound environmental policies and economic growth.
The report, titled Clean Jobs Florida, found that 130,000 Floridians now work in clean energy jobs at 14,000 companies spread across the state.
Despite the renewable sector growing at six percent - twice the state’s average - the number of clean energy jobs is low, according to Bob Keefe, E2’s Executive Director.
"When you compare Florida to other states, the amount of people in clean energy jobs is relatively small - about one point five percent of the entire workforce," said Keefe. "What that shows us is that Florida is missing out on a huge potential to grow this industry."
Keefe said that Florida is uniquely positioned to grow its renewable energy sector, but that it would require policy changes, like a renewable energy portfolio standard that requires utilities to get a portion of their energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. Twenty-nine states around the country have such standards.
"That’s something that’s a no-brainer for Florida," said Keefe. "The sun doesn’t shine any brighter in Massachusetts or North Carolina than it does in Florida, I can guarantee you that."
Keefe spoke at the Climate Science and Solutions Summit last Saturday at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.
To learn more about the Clean Jobs Florida report, visit www.cleanjobsflorida.com.
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