Data: Michigan sixth in U.S. in clean energy jobs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan is making progress in its shift to renewable energy. A new analysis by E2 , an environmental nonprofit group, says Michigan holds the sixth-most clean energy jobs in the U.S.

The data comes from the recently released Clean Jobs America 2024 Report . According to the analysis, more than 127,000 Michigan residents work in clean energy, trailing only California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement in response to the study, crediting President Joe Biden’s administration for federal investment in manufacturing for creating space for more clean energy jobs.

“Michigan is a leader in creating high-skilled, good-paying jobs, bringing supply chains home, and reducing our reliance on foreign oil,” Whitmer stated . “We are making more clean American energy here in Michigan, protecting our precious air, land and lakes, and strengthening the future of our economy.”

Like most other states, the majority of Michigan’s clean energy jobs deal with energy efficiency, including manufacturing high-efficiency appliances, lighting, HVAC and “advanced building materials.”

Not surprisingly, Michigan also has more than 33,000 jobs dedicated to clean energy vehicles. That ranks second behind California, which has approximately 75,000 jobs.

According to the analysis, Michigan added 5,234 new clean energy jobs over the last year, a 4.3% increase. That’s an improvement on 3,883 new clean energy jobs announced in 2023.

The bulk of the clean energy jobs are in metro Detroit. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area holds 68,555 of the state’s clean energy jobs. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area has the second-most with 14,941. Kalamazoo-Portage is fourth at 3,593, behind the Lansing metro area.

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