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November 11, 2020

Report: Pandemic pares CT’s growing clean-energy industry

solar clean energy blumenthal Photo | HBJ File A technician from Norwich-based Lantern Energy working on a solar array.
By Matt Pilon

Clean-energy jobs have grown in recent years, but the events of 2020 are expected to pare back that progress.
That’s according to a new study -- The Connecticut Clean Energy Industry Report -- jointly produced by several state energy agencies, utilities and other officials.

According to the report, there were more than 44,000 clean-energy jobs in the state as of 2019, representing a gross state product of $6.5 billion. That job count was up 9.1% from 2015. 

While the number of jobs in the industry was estimated to surpass 46,000 this year in Connecticut, the COVID-19 pandemic led to 6,500 clean energy job losses, and now officials expect there to be 40,668 jobs remaining by year’s end, the report said. That would be a decline not only compared to 2019, but also compared to 2016.

“While COVID-19 has impacted our progress, it has not weakened our resolve,” said Eric Brown, chair of the Joint Committee of the Energy Efficiency Board and a vice president with the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. “Through the Energize CT initiative, we are committed to building a vibrant, resilient, and growing clean energy industry for Connecticut that can withstand future pandemics, budget pressures or other unforeseen challenges.”

The bulk of the state’s clean-energy jobs, about 80%, are related to energy efficiency services, while the second-largest segment is clean-energy generation, including nuclear and solar workers, according to the report. Other sectors that fall under the report’s definition of clean energy include alternative transportation, clean grid and storage, and clean fuels.

The study was produced by the Connecticut Green Bank, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the state’s Energy Efficiency Board, Eversource, and utilities owned by Avangrid. BW Research performed the employment analysis.

The study also found a lower degree of difficulty reported by clean-energy employers in filling job openings.

“While it’s good to see hiring challenges faced by clean energy employers are lower than those experienced nation-wide, there is still plenty of opportunity for job growth in the sector in Connecticut,” said Lonnie Reed, chair of the Green Bank’s board of directors. “As we continue to strive to bring energy efficiency and renewables to all of society, we will need to create job opportunities across all demographics.”
 

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