In 2021, nearly 58,000 Minnesotans worked in energy efficiency and clean energy, making the industry a major and promising part of the state’s economy. The report comes after Congress and the Biden administration passed the largest investment in climate and clean energy in history which are set to boost clean energy jobs and businesses across the state.
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Approximately 40 percent of the clean energy jobs lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn were regained.
This was the region’s fastest-growing sector in 2021.
Clean energy jobs grew in line with Minnesota’s overall job growth in 2021.
The solar industry now employs nearly 5,000 Minnesotans.
Energy efficiency workers make up the largest portion of clean energy workers in Minnesota. These jobs might include manufacturing energy efficient windows and doors, or in construction working to retrofit buildings and save people money with efficient lighting or HVAC systems.
Workers who are employed in industries that generate power from wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal and low-impact hydro technologies are considered renewable generation workers.
Minnesotans who build and develop hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles, as well as those who develop clean fuels like biodiesel and non-corn ethanol from grasses or agricultural waste are also part of the clean energy sector.
In Minnesota, a growing sector of clean energy jobs are focused on advanced grid technologies that store energy on the grid and manage the distribution of energy to customers. People working in this sector are helping to modernize our electric grid and build a more efficient and resilient electricity system.
Energy efficiency jobs are the largest sector of clean energy employment in Minnesota comprising nearly 3 out of every 4 clean energy jobs in the state.
Minnesota’s second-largest sector of clean energy jobs is renewable energy, which employs more than 8,200 workers. Of note, the state’s advanced transportation sector grew 23% in 2021 – the fastest growing sector across the Midwest.
“In the last 5 years, we’ve added 105 people which represents 36% growth. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has only kickstarted further and faster growth. In the next 5 years I envision EVS becoming one of the premier solar and storage engineering firms in the country, we have an incredible runway in front of us.”
Clean energy jobs can also be categorized by the role they play in the value chain. Each value chain category captures jobs from multiple clean energy sectors. For example, construction jobs can include energy efficiency jobs and renewable energy jobs.
Minnesota leads the region with the largest percentage of clean energy jobs in construction.
“Minnesota’s clean energy sector has proven its resilience and paired with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, our industry is poised to supercharge job creation and economic growth across the state. With the right coordination between state and federal agencies and the clean energy industry – we will be a powerful engine for clean energy innovation for decades to come.”
Recent federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the CHIPS and Science Act, and state policies like the Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act make unprecedented investments in the clean energy economy and create promise for strong future growth in clean energy jobs.
Specifically, the IRA’s focus on reshoring good-paying manufacturing jobs and paying a prevailing wage to maximize incentives for large renewable projects will spur job growth in these sectors.
Still, there is more to do to meet the nation’s climate goals of reducing climate emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and state goals around growing clean energy jobs and improving equity in the clean energy economy outlined in the recently published Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework.
Implement recently passed federal policies to support a rapid and just transition to clean energy. The IRA, IIJA, and the CHIPS and Science Act include a combined investment of hundreds of billions of dollars in the clean energy economy. Coordination across federal, state, and local agencies will be integral to maximize the effectiveness of this historic level of funding.
Develop and fund federal and state workforce development programs. Workforce training will be critical to the continued growth of the industry, as over 84 percent of employers in the state report at least some difficulty hiring workers.
Expand our regional transmission grid and increase ease of access for clean energy projects. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s recent announcement of new transmission infrastructure will significantly improve the reliability of Minnesota’s congested grid, allowing for greater investment in clean energy solutions of all scales.
Update Minnesota’s building codes to save energy costs and grow energy efficiency jobs. In 2021, the state legislature considered a bill to allow cities to adopt a more efficient building standard to achieve net-zero energy for new commercial buildings by 2036.
Increase Minnesota’s energy standard to 100 percent clean energy. Under such a standard, utilities could help design a schedule to meet carbon reduction goals by 2040. If passed, Minnesota would join 10 other states in passing legislation to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity.
Connect with us on social media. Also, contact your legislator today to let them know that you support clean energy. The Minnesota Legislature makes it easy to identify who represents you in St. Paul. Click here to identify your legislators and contact them to let them know you support clean energy jobs in Minnesota.
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Download the media kitFor more information on the Clean Jobs Midwest report and the Minnesota report, please read our press release.
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