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* HuffPo…
A new report on the state of the solar industry out Tuesday from the nonprofit Solar Foundation shows that the number of jobs in the United States in the solar industry outpaced those in the oil and gas industries for the first time ever.
As of November 2015 there were almost 209,000 people who worked in the solar industry, 90 percent of whom only work on solar-related projects, according to the report.
There were only about 185,000 people working in oil and gas in the United States in December 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The oil industry has had a rough 18 months, as the price of oil slid from more than $100 a barrel in the spring of 2014 to just over $30 a barrel in recent weeks. The low price has caused layoffs in what had been a robust and growing shale oil extraction business.
* Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition press release…
With President Obama expected to use his final State of the Union speech on Tuesday to highlight progress in building a clean energy economy, a review of actions taken at the state-level shows Illinois, which once was a clean energy leader, is failing to keep pace in the competition for jobs and investments that these initiatives can deliver.
Members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition called on Gov. Bruce Rauner to reverse this trend and to join other governors– including many Republicans– who have taken steps to implement the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), which gives states tools to create strategies to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.
Illinois stands out as one of the only states that have yet to announce its intentions on the CPP.
In addition, Oklahoma recently overtook Illinois as the nation’s fourth-largest wind power producer, which once led the nation in producing wind energy behind Texas, California and Iowa. Illinois installed no new wind capacity in 2014 or 2015, in part because of fractured state energy policies.
Members of the coalition support the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill (SB1485/HB2607) because it contains policy reforms that give businesses the kind of certainty and predictability they are seeking, legislation that represents the best path to meeting EPA goals because it also fix Illinois’ out-of-date energy policies, creating 32,000 jobs and saving consumers $1.6 billion on their electric bills.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 2:52 pm
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These wind farms aren’t in Cook County, which was the only county PQ won. These wind farms are in Central Illinois where Republicans have a stronghold in Illinois. BUT these wind farms are built by union members, so it’s bad for the Illinois economy according to Rauner. Rauner is shooting himself in the foot. The only voting bloc Rauner hasn’t harmed yet are collar counties’ independents and Republicans. If 2014 is any indicator they are on the chopping block next.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:00 pm
–In addition, Oklahoma recently overtook Illinois as the nation’s fourth-largest wind power producer…–
Yeah, but the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain there.
Perhaps Emperor Rauner could harness the power of the fully operational Death Spiral he likes to talk about.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:03 pm
Having grown up in Oklahoma I can actually believe this. 1)They are very windy.2)They diversify their industries. I know you’d think it was just oil there but in the late 70’s and 80’s Oklahoma lost a huge percentage of their population to TX. Since then they have really tried to not be too invested in any one sector. I can see wind taking off there. I can also see the tribes doing a lot of wind production. They got a huge flow of cash from the casinos and I would bet a dollar they invested it in wind. They have the land and they don’t have to follow the regulations.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:04 pm
A similar pattern occurred with ethanol. We started near the front of the pack and gradually fell behind other states as we failed to keep up.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:05 pm
A couple of years ago there were huge wind farms along I-57 in Will and Kankakee Counties and maybe a bit farther south. Driving along there last year, they were almost all gone. I have no idea what happened.
But, hey, wind is still expensive as all heck and we can’t afford the subsidies right now, so I’m just curious, it’s probably a good thing.
And if we are “falling behind” as with teh ethanol boondoggle, all the better.
Comment by Harry Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:13 pm
==- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:03 pm:==
Rauner wouldn’t make a bad Palpatine.
To the post, having diverse sources of energy is good not only for our energy security, but for our economy as well. Is the governor’s budget dereliction harming our clean energy sector?
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:13 pm
Surprising, as Oklahoma has fewer state legislators than does Illinois.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Not sure this Administration even has this on their radar. It doesn’t fit into the Turn Around Agenda, unless Citadel has a big investment, then it’s all white noise to the 2nd floor.
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Harry 3:13-not aware of any large scale wind farms removed in Will and K3…there might be an old-style turbine or 2 that was put up and taken down, but every large-scale wind project in recent years is still intact.
To the post: Where my daughter lives in central IL, there is a huge fight between a wind developer and the county board, which turned down the developer’s application after months of study and testimony. It has gotten as ugly as a lawsuit against the board now. Elsewhere, landowners and some elected officials are fighting tooth and nail against the Rock Island Clean Line (RICL), an electric line meant to deliver the power from the plains states (much of it from the new-found wind industry) to the east coast grid. Some of the resistance to alt energy in IL is from the grass roots level, even with developers paying several thousands of dollars a year to landowners who let them put a turbine on their property, and “nuisance payments” of up to 35% of home value for nearby affected residents.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:39 pm
I know Illinois has some problems, but to fall behind a historically “backwater” state, makes the reality of our predicament almost humorous ( and doubly serious at the same time ). And I do not care what category or listing is used to evaluate our state leadership!
Comment by illini Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Solar. Roadways. http://www.solarroadways.comIt’s going to happen, Illinois should pilot this program. Time for Illinois to lead instead of always playing catch-up. Think of the jobs this would create. I know concrete and asphalt have big lobbying but we can re-train unions to get on board with innovative ideas. Wish we had some visionary politicians in this state instead of corrupt/self serving ones.
Comment by State House Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:50 pm
http://www.solarroadways.com *fixed link
Comment by State House Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:53 pm
Another day, another industry criticizing Rauner for creating instability in the state…
Comment by Senator Clay Davis Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:28 pm
Sixth degree of Seperation: like the state workers whose pensions are constitutionally protected, so too are those landowners constitutionally protected property rights. Everyone should get their day in court. And for those county board members that may be getting sued, who do they represent? Some wind developer in Kansas? Or is it the residents of Pike or Brown or wherever?
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:42 pm
“- illini - Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
I know Illinois has some problems, but to fall behind a historically “backwater” state, makes the reality of our predicament almost humorous ( and doubly serious at the same time ). And I do not care what category or listing is used to evaluate our state leadership!”
Don’t look at job or population growth than. Illinois is almost dead last in both. Has been for a while.
Comment by Tone Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 4:48 pm
Actually, nearly every state has taken the 2 year option to delay any implementation. The fact that Illinois hasn’t “announced its intentions” is very clearly misleading. Why didn’t they say that 45 states have elected to defer implementation.
Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 5:14 pm
“Perhaps Emperor Rauner could harness the power of the fully operational Death Spiral he likes to talk about.”
Lol.
Comment by Liandro Tuesday, Jan 12, 16 @ 8:47 pm
The solar industry is supported by government subsidies. Cut the subsidies, there wouldn’t be much of a solar industry. The oil industry is not subsidized and pays taxes.
You really cant compare these numbers as apples to apples.
Comment by Dudeman Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 8:22 am
“The oil industry is not subsidized and pays taxes.”
That’s amusing. The oil & gas industries are quite dependent on federal and state subsidy.
“In 2013, the U.S. federal and state governments gave away $21.6 billion in subsidies for oil, gas, and coal exploration and production.”
http://priceofoil.org/2014/07/09/cashing-in-on-all-of-the-above-u-s-fossil-fuel-production-subsidies-under-obama/
Comment by Senator Clay Davis Wednesday, Jan 13, 16 @ 9:10 am