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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Delaware Governor Proposes Clean Energy Jobs Act

03/11/2010
Delaware Governor Jack Markell will introduce legislation to create the Delaware Clean Energy Jobs Act and says the effort would bring 1,000 construction jobs, expand manufacturing and advance adoption of renewable energy in the state.

"The purpose of the initiative is simple: to create quality jobs, expand local manufacturing and establish Delaware as a national leader in the adoption of renewable energy," Markell said in press statement.

The Act would facilitate the potential installation of approximately 300 MW of new solar photovoltaic systems by 2029 and installation of over 1000 MW of utility-scale generation.

Those efforts could create as many as 1,000 new construction jobs and 150 new long-term operation and maintenance jobs by 2029.

Additional jobs would be created by prioritizing Delaware renewable-energy projects and incentivizing the use of locally manufactured systems, said the lawmaker.

 By adding a longer-range target to the existing Renewable Portfolio Standard, Delaware will be on a course to receive 30 percent of its energy supplies from renewable sources by 2029.

Some of the jobs that a clean energy industry would support include skilled trades' people, electricians, steel fabricators, IT specialists, electrical engineers, solar system installers, wind turbine service technicians, training specialists, factory workers and support service personnel like accountants, educators and customer service specialists.

"We are working closely with our neighboring states to create a vibrant mid-Atlantic clean energy market, but we also want to maximize capital investment and quality jobs in Delaware. We can move more rapidly, respond to opportunities more quickly and get people back to work," Markell said.

In making the announcement, the Governor mentioned how state companies are making advances in renewable energy. DuPont is emerging as a leader in solar technology components; WL Gore is developing next-generation fuel cells; White Optics has an innovative high-efficiency lighting solution; PTM Manufacturing is producing innovative, green-building materials; Sanosil manufactures green cleaning products; Innospec is working on alternative fuels; Autoport is doing electric vehicle conversions and potentially ground-breaking vehicle-to-grid power; IonPower is designing fuel cells; Ashland is developing green chemistry and water technology; Fisker said it expects to employ thousands of Delawareans, and NRG recently acquired Bluewater Wind, recognizing the value of clean energy to their bottom line.

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