At a time when pink slips are sending workers packing from many Minnesota industries, those who are going green are creating jobs at promising rates, according to a groundbreaking new study by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
While overall jobs in Minnesota grew by 1.9 percent between 1998 and 2007, jobs related to the clean energy economy grew by 11.9 percent, Pew reported. (PDF)
To be sure, it is a fledgling sector of the economy, employing just shy of 20,000 Minnesotans in 2007 compared with a total state workforce of more than 3 million.
Still, the growth during tough times is notable.
WindLogics of St. Paul is one company Pew cited in its examples of the players in the emerging clean-energy economy. It provides feasibility and consulting services for wind farm development and operation.
In 2006, the company had 35 employees. Today it has 80, many of them working in high-quality professional jobs such as a meteorologist, computing specialist and software developer, said Laurie Mainquist, WindLogics' marketing manager.
Another Minnesota example in the Pew report is Lumificient Corp. of Maple Grove, a company created in 2000 using energy-efficient LED technology to illuminate signs for businesses.
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Green Jobs Surging in Minnesota, Study Reports
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By Sharon Schmickle
MinnPost, June 11, 2009
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