THE JOBS PICTURE

Clean-Tech Job Forecast 2010
Kevin Brown and Steve Kyryk, January 22, 2010 (Clean Edge)

"…Recession Took Toll on Global and Smaller Clean-Tech Companies Alike

"…Q4 2009 Marked the Initial Signs of a Clean-Tech Turn-Around, but Job Growth Will be Slow…Stimulus grants and awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) last Fall set in motion renewed clean-tech job growth with hundreds of millions of dollars awarded to clean-tech companies leading to hires in both the private and public sectors…And as credit markets thaw and larger projects move forward, we expect a continued increase in hiring at larger energy companies in 2010."

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"Clean Tech is Attracting Top Quality Talent…[M]ore and more companies are looking for experienced engineers, managers, and other professionals…[S]mart grid companies are poaching high-level expertise from major information technology and software companies…

"…Growth Area: Water…Not confined to traditional water purification, we see exceptional growth potential among companies pursuing advanced materials (NanoH2O) and novel processes (Oasys Water) or utilizing synthetic biology to control the influx and efflux of water molecules through live cells (Danfoss)."

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"Growth Area: Smart Grid…Investors have shown a keen and almost unyielding focus on smart grid opportunities…

"…It's Time to Make a Decision on Carbon Policy…The only way to drive long-term clean-tech industry growth is with a clear and meaningful policy on carbon. Not a policy branded conservative or liberal with a bunch of hidden carve out dollars for pet projects; just a federally binding decision so companies, investors, and the rest of us know the rules of the game. Once the rules are set investors and entrepreneurs can go to work with greater confidence, resulting in millions of new jobs being created across the country."