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More N.C. green energy jobs identified in 2009 survey

The N.C. Sustainable Energy Associated estimates in an October report that the renewable energy industry employs more than 10,000 full time equivalent employees in the state and generates more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue. Last year, the association estimated that about 6,500 such jobs existed in the state.

Not surprisingly, the Research Triangle and Charlotte region led in the number of people working in some capacity with renewable energy. But the Piedmont Triad has 66 firms and green jobs now exist in all 100 counties, according to the association.

The survey found that most employees work for a few large companies in the state even though most of the firms responding to the survey employ 10 or fewer people. The majority of existing firms also started business within the past three years. Thirty-nine percent of responding firms were not originally involved in the energy efficiency or renewable energy business, according to the report, but instead transitioned or expanded into this type of business activity after their inception. This represents a small increase over last year’s census results in the portion of transitioning firms.

The association expects the industry to continue to grow over the next year, but found that the manufacturing sector, which employs the most people, was hardest hit by the recession. I asked if the association knows how many of those firms are receiving government funds and was told that the association plans to track that type of information in future years.