WASHINGTON – Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, released the following statement in response to the study released by the Pew Charitable Trusts examining the role of the clean energy economy in America’s new economic landscape.
“The new study released by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that ethanol related jobs were part of a category of environmentally friendly production jobs that grew fastest from 1998 to 2007. The study highlights yet again the vital role domestic ethanol production has played in boosting green-collar job creation and improving our environment. The analysis found that environmentally friendly production jobs which include those from ethanol represented the highest growth of jobs in the clean energy economy from 1998-2007, with a rise of 67 percent.”
“By moving to a higher ethanol blend, the U.S. will further realize the job creation benefits of ethanol. Increasing the blend of ethanol in our fuel supply up to 15 percent will create and support more than 130,000 new green-collar jobs and inject $24.4 billion into the U.S. economy annually. Further, the Biotechnology Industry Organization study, ‘U.S. Economic Impact of Advanced Biofuels Production’ found that the commercialization of next generation biofuels could directly create 29,000 new jobs over the next three years and 807,000 indirect jobs by 2022.”
“At this critical time for our nation’s economy, we must support higher blends of ethanol because it helps create jobs, increase our energy independence and green our environment.”
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.