Wind Industry Shines in New Clean Energy Economy Profile Report
Wind on the Wires is proud of the role the wind industry has played in Minnesota’s economy
ST. PAUL, MINN. (October 2, 2014) – Today, Governor Dayton presented the findings of the State’s Clean Energy Economy Profile, a report led by the Minnesota State Departments of Commerce and Employment and Economic Development, with input from a committee of industry leaders, including Wind on the Wires. The report illustrates the great successes Minnesota has enjoyed and the competitive advantage the state has for sustaining local jobs and attracting additional investments to grow our clean energy economy.
“Minnesota’s early action to embrace wind energy has created thousands of great professional jobs in our economy,” said Wind on the Wires Executive Director Beth Soholt. According to the Minnesota Clean Energy Economy Profile report, Minnesota has seen a 288% increase in wind power jobs since 2000, compared to an 11% state employment growth during the same time period. Wages in the wind power sector are more than $10,000 higher than the average annual wage in Minnesota. “We applaud Minnesota’s leadership in the clean energy sector. We are enormously proud of the nearly 2,000 wind power jobs and particularly the 553% increase in wind power businesses in Minnesota since 2000,” said Soholt.
The report highlights that for wind,
the greatest number of jobs can be found in installation and maintenance,
project development and financing, and supplying manufactured component parts.
“Wind on the Wires has worked side-by-side with many groups, organizations, and
our members to establish the key policies that have helped drive this
incredible growth and economic development for our state,” said Soholt. “We urge Governor Dayton and the legislature
to ensure that Minnesota achieves at least half of its electricity from clean
energy by 2030 because it’s the right thing to do to create jobs, boost economic
development, and reduce carbon emissions that endanger our health and pollute
Minnesota’s vast water resources.”
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About Wind on the Wires
Wind on the Wires is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., which is comprised of wind developers, environmental organizations, tribal representatives, public interest groups, clean energy advocates, farm groups and businesses providing goods and services to the wind industry. Our mission is to overcome the barriers to bringing wind energy to market by addressing technical and regulatory issues, as well as through education and public outreach.
