Clean energy job creation numbers artificially inflated

Isaac Orr, Policy Fellow at Center of the American Experiment, released the following statement in response to Clean Energy Economy Minnesota’s job creation claims: 

“The moneyed interests behind wind and solar energy like to pat themselves on the back for creating new jobs, but their claims are artificially inflated. According to their own report, 76% of the jobs they’re claiming to create already exist in industries that are only loosely related to energy efficiency, like installers of energy-efficient doors and appliances. Meanwhile, you never hear about the jobs that will be destroyed when energy prices skyrocket, because employers will have less money available to pay salaries and benefits.”

 Center of the American Experiment recently released a report which used the economic modeling software IMPLAN, which is standard among economists, to find 20,950 jobs would be destroyed by higher electricity prices if Minnesota were to pursue a 50% renewable energy mandate.

Isaac Orr is a policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment, where he writes about energy and environmental issues, including mining and electricity policy. Prior to joining Center of the America Experiment, Isaac served as a research fellow at The Heartland Institute, where he specialized in energy and environmental policy. Isaac has written extensively on hydraulic fracturing, frac sand mining and electricity policy, among other energy and environmental issues. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal,USA Today, the New York Post, The Hill, Orange County Register, The Washington Times, and many other publications.