The Clean Energy Economy

www.pewglobalwarming.org/cleanenergyeconomy

The Clean Energy Economy

The United States and its Position in a Competitive, Global Marketplace

Phyllis CuttinoDirector

Climate and Energy ProgramsPew Environment Group

www.pewglobalwarming.org/cleanenergyeconomywww.pewglobalwarming.org/cleanenergyeconomy

• the first-of-its-kind hard count of the jobs, businesses and investments in the U.S. Clean Energy Economy

• the first-ever state-by-state analysis of the Clean

Energy Economy over time (1998-2007)

• offered a clear definition and framework on the Clean Energy Economy

Pew’s Clean Energy Economy study was…


Defining the Clean Energy EconomyWhat is a Green Job?

• While clean energy jobs and businesses will change over time, these specific categories will not.

• Categories provide a framework and allow for innovation in the clean energy sector.


• Job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia between 1998 and 2007.

• Jobs include engineers, plumbers, construction workers, machine setters, teachers and others with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $110,000.

• In 2007, there were over 770,000 jobs in the clean energy economy

Clean Energy Jobs in the United States




Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?Growth, Competition, and Opportunity in the World’s Largest Economies

• How was the sector faring in the face of the economic downturn? Effect of stimulus funds?

• How were countries competing?


• tracks overall clean energy finance and investment for every G-20 member country

• offers competitive snapshots of the clean energy

economy in each of the G-20 member countries

• highlights certain domestic policies that are successful in spurring clean energy growth

Pew’s G-20 Clean Energy Factbook…


Growth in the Clean Energy Economy

• 90% of investments occur in G-20 member economies.

• Globally clean energy investment has grown 230% since 2005.

• $162 billion was invested in 2009.

• An average of $32 billion invested in each of the last three quarters.


Measuring Competition



Investment intensity is clean energy investment as a percentage of a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).



• Total global renewable energy capacity at the end of 2009 was 250 GW.

• The U.S. led in installed wind, biomass, and geothermal, but very close to losing this lead to China.



The U.S was the undisputed leader in innovation, with 60% of global venture capital investments. This trend is likely to continue as U.S. has been an engine of energy technology innovation.


Global Stimulus Funding for Clean Energy

• An estimated $184 billion was earmarked for clean energy by the various government stimulus packages.

• U.S. led with $66 billion and China was second with $47 billion.

• Two-thirds of financial recovery funding is projected to be spent in 2010 and 2011.


Countries Leading the G-20 Have Enacted Multiple Clean Energy Policies


Policy and the U.S. Clean Energy Economy

• The U.S. has a patchwork of state renewable energy standards and no national carbon policy.

• Federal financial support to the sector has been episodic and short-term, up one administration, down the next.


The U.S. Is At A CrossroadsPredictable policy instruments are needed• The U.S. is going to be left

behind in the global clean energy race unless sufficient policy is implemented.

• A national carbon cap, strong RES and predictable financial incentives would provide long-term market security to clean energy investors.

• Comprehensive federal legislation would create new technologies that could be exported to meet global demand.


Opportunity in the Global Clean Energy Economy

• Projected 25% growth in the sector this year – to a record $200 billion by the end of 2010.

• 80% of future energy demand will come from developing countries.


Opportunity in the Clean Energy Economy

The International Energy Association estimates that $38 trillion will be needed globally between now and 2030 to meet demand and C02 goals.


What They’re Saying About the Clean Energy Economy

• “Right now, the United States has no long-term market signal to tell companies and consumers that it values low-carbon energy. It has no policies to discourage sending hundreds of billions of dollars a year overseas for energy. It does not offer adequate sustained R&D funding to be a serious competitor in this huge business.”

- John Doerr, venture capitalist


Technology

The Clean Energy Economy