by Guy Page
The solar power industry in Vermont employs about 1,680 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) workers, based on calculations derived from statistics in a 2017 report. The FTE for all renewable power jobs is about 4,500.
Total full-time and part-time renewable energy jobs (6,529) are down from an all-time high of 6,965 in 2016.
According to the 2017 Vermont Clean Energy Industry Report, issued by the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund, about 70% of renewable energy workers work fulltime. The report noted that while the total number of jobs fell, the average worker had a higher percentage of FTE than in 2016.
The total number of all 2017 part-time and full-time “clean energy” jobs is over 19,081. “The 19,081 figure represents all workers that spend any portion of their time on clean-energy business activities,” the report said. The highest percentage of jobs is in the energy efficiency sector (56%), followed by renewable power (34%), and clean transportation (7%).
The solar power industry remains the largest employer within the 6,529 renewable power sector, with almost 2,400 workers. When the 70% ratio is applied, the number of FTE solar power jobs this year is 1680.
The overall decline of renewable power employment was attributed to job losses in biofuels: “both woody and non-woody biomass fuels respectively declined by about 270 and 160 jobs.” The report cited as a reason the continued decline in the price of fossil fuels.
– Reprinted with permission from State House Headlines
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I do think that the “renewable energy” jobs, as related to solar- and wind-generation, will soon drop to zero, as soon as our governments stop subsidizing them and giving them ‘tax breaks’. A big plus, for the taxpayers. Sorry, Bernie, and the other “Three Stooges” of the cabal.
Guy,
Applying full time equivalent provides a much more realistic picture of the manhours involved in RE.
RE man hours = 4500 x 40h/w = 180,000/w, full time équivalent basis.
The entire Vermont economy likely has about 200,000 f.t.e. jobs.
That means RE is just a few percent of total manhours.