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Jun 11, 2009

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL: Study shows Texas among nation’s leaders in green energy economies

By Elliott Blackburn | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Story last updated at 6/11/2009 - 1:11 am

Texas has one of the country's largest single-state green energy economies, but other states are catching up, according to a new study by a national research group.

The Lone Star state boasts wind energy resources larger than most nations and added more than twice the green energy jobs than other jobs over the last decade, according to a yearlong study by the PEW charitable trusts.

But states like Colorado were gaining at a brisk pace, according to the study.
Texas ranked second in 2007 for jobs - 7 percent of all U.S. green jobs - and fourth in patents tied to clean energy, according to the study.

The state also boasted the third highest venture capital investment for green energy fields between 2006 and 2008, according to the study.

But Texas trailed up-and-comers like Colorado and Tennessee in job growth between 1998 and 2007. And much of the state's job growth had little to do with the iconic wind turbines sprouting along West Texas mesas and highways.

Almost three-quarters of the clean energy jobs recorded by the charitable trust involved conservation and pollution mitigation - workers responsible for recycling, water conservation and handling greenhouse emissions and other pollutants.

Businesses and jobs that develop clean energy accounted for just 6.3 percent of the state's job portfolio.

Those numbers could pick up now that the state has chosen where to run the massive infrastructure required to fetch wind energy from the Panhandle and send it to the rest of the state, said Eric Bearse, spokesman for the Wind Coalition.

Investment in projects that follow the new power grid could triple the amount of wind energy produced in the state.

"Any slowdown in terms of job growth related to wind was, frankly, expected," Bearse said. "The long term picture remains quite good."

To comment on this story:

elliott.blackburn@lubbockonline.com l 766-8722
walt.nett@lubbockonline.com l 766-8706
First appeared on lubbockonline.com: 8:25 p.m. Wednesday.


Comments

Posted by michale on 09/17  at  02:49 AM

The energy we use causes greenhouse gases, which then cause icebergs to melt, causing the water level to rise.With green energy, we can prevent the greenhouse gases, or significantly decrease them, from causing the water level to rise,along with many other environmentally dangerous things.hydrogen gas car

Posted by Car Leasing on 10/30  at  11:38 PM

the state has chosen where to run the massive infrastructure required to fetch wind energy from the Panhandle and send it

Posted by Majestic Elegance Punta Cana on 11/03  at  01:15 PM

Alright! Way to go Texas! Everybody should follow Texas’ example and start going green.
Majestic Elegance Punta Cana

Posted by Fingerprinting Dallas on 09/29  at  07:58 AM

Great for TEXAS!  Go Green!

Posted by blogger on 12/14  at  09:33 PM

Cultural icons may be national, regional or related to a city. And they can be symbols for a nation, or can evoke particular values held by that state. For example, France uses Marianne as a symbol of the French Revolution. Bruce Lee is a symbol for the martial arts and philosophical culture of insight and knowledge in the entire world.

Posted by NLP Training Courses London on 03/16  at  06:33 AM

Texas is one of the largest state in America that has green economy that’s why I want to stay there for a long time.

Posted by International Trucks on 03/17  at  09:34 PM

It has the largest complex of clean Nuclear power plants in the world. The most populous state in the USA from turning into an industrial wasteland.

Posted by Culturismo Sin Tonterias on 09/09  at  11:26 AM

Great state, I have my aunt there and visit her every time to time. It is very amazing Texas is among the greener places.

Regards.

Posted by Micro Nichos Rentables on 09/14  at  06:28 AM

for me, texas its the best, my family live there

Posted by Culturismo sin Tonterias on 09/15  at  03:23 AM

Cultural icons may be national, regional or related to a city. And they can be symbols for a nation, or can evoke particular values held by that state.

Posted by ICF Construction on 10/14  at  09:34 PM

The state of Texas is doing such a great job. I am so glad to see all the great work going green. I wish more states would do this.

Posted by cover for ipad 2 on 12/10  at  04:07 AM

No doubt why Texas, has accomplished this mission, it is simply because they have the discipline, responsibility and truly imposing their law.
pentry doors

Posted by cover for ipad 2 on 12/10  at  04:07 AM

‘No doubt why Texas, has accomplished this mission, it is simply because they have the discipline, responsibility and truly imposing their law.
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Posted by Dried Strawberry on 12/23  at  09:48 PM

by the way, just as Apple did with iOS and MacOS X on top of BSD UNIX.

Posted by power system on 02/01  at  10:22 PM

That’s really good news! With all the effort that’s been put up by the people involved, I think it’s time that Texas and the rest of the gang gets the recognition they deserve.

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