Forecast Shows More Green Jobs

In wake of stories like this one that appeared in The Fresno Bee, maybe - just maybe - green energy is the job generator of tomorrow.

With four surveys complete, the folks at GreenBiz.com says it's pretty clear that big companies are advancing green policies because their customers want it.

Only a year ago, 48% of 483 businesses surveyed and 40% of those with revenue over $1 billion cited the economic downturn as the catalyst. Today, only 20% of the large businesses say the economy is driving their efforts. Sixty percent cite customer (35%) and company leadership (25%) requirements are influencing their policies.

The surveys show large and small businesses are spending more on environmental and health programs, with energy efficiency job one. "This shift doesn't mark a decrease in green-product investment, but rather a higher priority focus on cost savings," according to the report.

As a result, larger businesses are hiring more people in environmental and sustainability capacities. Last year, only 8% said they would beef up their environmental departments. Today, it is 28%.

Smaller businesses are hiring as much: only 20% said they plan to enlarge those departments in the short term.

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to improving our region's quality of life by increasing its production and use of clean and alternative energy. The SJVCEO works with cities and counties and public and private organizations to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Valley