2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Report

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced Massachusetts’ clean energy economy grew by 11.2 percent from July 2011 to July 2012. According to the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report released today the growing sector now employs 71,523 people at 4,995 clean energy firms across Massachusetts.

"I have said from the beginning of this Administration that, if we get clean energy right, the world will be our customer. This past year’s 11.2 percent increase in clean energy jobs means that we are getting it right and the world knows it,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Investing in our nation-leading clean energy agenda is the right thing to do for our environment, our energy independence, our public health and our economic vitality. We owe it to our future to keep this momentum going strong.”

“The clean energy revolution is taking hold and creating local jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan, who chairs the MassCEC Board of Directors. “Through Governor Patrick’s vision and supported by MassCEC’s innovative programs, the Commonwealth’s clean energy economy is growing rapidly, despite a tough economic environment across the nation.”

“Our innovation economy, including the clean energy sector, has been one of the drivers of our economic recovery and through our long-term economic development plan the Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to continuing that growth,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “This report shows that our clean energy sector is growing and providing good jobs throughout the Commonwealth, and that there is room in the future for more growth in this innovative industry.”

According to the report, 71,523 people are directly involved in work related to the state’s clean energy sector, an increase of 11.2 percent over 2011. This growth outpaced the overall economy nearly ten times over, and it’s expected to continue. Employers surveyed are optimistic about the coming year and expect to hire more workers in 2013. Clean energy continues to maintain its place as one of the Commonwealth’s marquee industries, with 1.7 percent of the total Massachusetts workforce.

The survey found a large number of firms in varied industries - ranging from construction and manufacturing to research and development - reporting activity and employment in the clean energy sector. Additionally the report identified a large number of companies that don’t necessarily identify themselves as clean energy companies first, but directly engage in activities related to the clean energy cluster - showing that clean energy penetrates numerous sectors of the Massachusetts economy.

“This report is proof that Massachusetts’ innovation economy is succeeding,” said incoming MassCEC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Alicia Barton McDevitt, who begins her term on August 20. “The report affirms Massachusetts’ role as a national and global leader in clean energy development and deployment, and a success made possible by our talented workforce, world-class academic and research institutions, and Governor Patrick's vision for a clean energy future in Massachusetts.”

For the purposes of the report, a clean energy firm is defined as an employer engaged in whole or in part in providing goods and services related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, alternative transportation, and carbon management. Clean energy workers are defined as spending at least a portion of their time supporting the clean energy aspects of their businesses.

The 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, which includes a breakdown of company and employment data by technology sector and geographic region and information on workforce trends, was prepared by BW Research Partnership on behalf of MassCEC.

BW Research Partnership administered surveys online and by telephone to a list of employers known to be engaged in the clean energy industry, as well as to a representative, clustered, random sample of companies from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as being potentially related to the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and alternative transportation sectors.

In total, researchers made more than 16,000 telephone calls and sent more than 5,200 emails to employers, yielding 930 survey responses with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

“This study illustrates just how strong and diverse the clean energy economy is in Massachusetts,” said BW Research Vice President Phil Jordan. “Compared to other regions that we have studied, the rare mix of world-class educational institutions, venture capital, entrepreneurial small businesses, supportive government policies, and an eager and educated consumer base make this a state home to one of the strongest and most exciting clean energy sectors in the nation.