New York is at the head of what one environmental group is calling ‘hidden good news’ in employment. And there could be even more ‘green’ job growth in the future.
Environmental Entrepreneurs tracks who, what and where new jobs are being created in renewable energy and sustainable transportation. E-2 Director Judy Albert says one announcement in the state means a boost in green jobs.
“There’s a big announcement this quarter, manufacturing rail cars for Metro North and Long Island Railroad. Kawasaki Rail is going to be creating 1500 jobs in Yonkers. We consider rail, we consider electric vehicles, we consider anything which reduces carbon emissions and is more efficient.”
She also says a retrofit of a closed-down Kodak plant will add about 100 positions. The facility is going to create the next generation of photo-voltaic panels for solar electricity generation – which could spur even more growth if it helps expand use of solar power. E-2’s third-quarter report found 15-thousand green jobs created. That comes from announcements in 30 states, with New York one of the leaders. The most growth was created in renewable power fields.
NEW YORK 3RD QUARTER GREEN JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Sept. - Kawasaki Rail 1500 jobs in Yonkers
- Aug. - City of New York Recycling 100 jobs in NYC
- July - Revolusun solar 15 jobs in Nyack
- July - Peconic Recycling 12 jobs in Cutchogue
- July - DNV KEMA Energy (batteries) 80 jobs in Albany
- July - SUNY Nanoscale (photovoltaics) 100 jobs in Rochester
Albert says finding ways to deal with so-called soft costs could spur even more jobs.
“The cost of installation, the cost of financing, those are issues which there are a number of avenues for attacking, how we can bring them down. One very interesting initiative in New York is the establishment of a Green Bank, to try to develop ways of bringing down the cost of financing.”
Albert notes uncertainty in policies such as a solar power tax credit makes it hard for the industry to plan. That inhibits investments that could further create green-sector jobs. The entire report on sustainable jobs is at cleanenergyworksforus.org.
