Green jobs push in New Jersey
New Jersey governor is focusing on a green jobs push to help the state’s economic recovery.
Mon, Aug 31 2009 at 2:03 PM EST
When I think of solar photovoltaic arrays, I think of the desert Southwest. When I think of massive wind turbine fields, I think of the upper Midwest. However, both of these industries are part of the green jobs revolution in New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is including green jobs as part of his state’s economic recovery plans.
About 13,000 private sector jobs were created in the state in July. Although all of these jobs weren’t in green industries, clean energy job growth in the state is continuing to rise. New Jersey is second in solar energy installation projects in the country with only California 
having more solar projects. This continued growth in solar and other renewable energy product demand is continuing to fuel green job growth in the state.
having more solar projects. This continued growth in solar and other renewable energy product demand is continuing to fuel green job growth in the state.“New Jersey is positioning itself as 'a center of economic opportunity in the new, green economy'' said Rhone Resch, the president and chief executive officer of the Solar Energy Industries Association, as he praised the state for its 4,000th solar installation.” Source: The State of New Jersey Office of the Governor
In reading the rest of the press release cited above, I was surprised to learn that New Jersey has more solar installations than all of the following states, combined: Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. When I think of those five states, I think of mass amounts of sunshine just begging for photovoltaic arrays to charge up.
As New Jersey’s economic recovery continues to unfold, we will likely see even more good, green jobs news coming out of the state.
Photo: The National Guard
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Comments
Jim Moench
09/01/2009 16:20 PM
With the state of New Jersey providing rebate incentives in the past of upwards of 70% and now providing renewable energy credits ("green tags") that are now selling for anywhere between $450.00 to $600.00 per tag, the subsidies are buying down the cost of the technology where it is affordable. However, the cost of the green tags translate to 45-60 cents per kilowatt hour. Who is willing to pay those kinds of electric rates?
