More Minnesotan's are taking up clean energy jobs and at a pace that is setting new state records.
Minnesota now has over 60,000 positions, besting the previous record set before the pandemic according to Clean Energy Economy Minnesota. 2,000 more workers joined the industry last year.
Executive Director Gregg Mast says 40% of those jobs are coming out of greater Minnesota where infrastructure is being updated in a environmentally friendly way.
"Really looking at how can we utilize clean electricity to incorporate into other sectors of our economy, such as heavy industry, manufacturing and the like," says Mast.
After reaching a high-point in 2019 (61,637), Minnesota’s clean energy jobs dipped to 55,168 in 2020. This year, 2023, marks the first time clean energy jobs have surpassed that previous high-water mark, and with growth of 6% anticipated for 2024, it is likely to continue to grow.
Mast says the goal is to create 100,000 clean energy jobs by 2030.
"Having continued investment into workforce training as well as helping to get people into the field, we're going to need all hands on deck to achieve this clean energy future and our laws and goals of the state," explains Mast.
He say milestones like this one bring Minnesota closer to achieving their 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040.
Minnesota’s clean energy jobs grew nearly fives times faster than the overall economy at 4% in 2023. 71% of those jobs come from small businesses according to Clean Energy Economy's data.