Greening the U.S. economy could grow millions of new manufacturing jobs, according to a recently released study by Duke University.
In their report, “Manufacturing Climate Solutions,” Duke researchers provide an in-depth analysis of the country’s current manufacturing landscape and what America must do to build up so-called “green collar” jobs while keeping down its greenhouse gas emissions.
“Until now, there was no tangible evidence of what the jobs are, how they are created and what it means for U.S. workers. We are providing that here,” said Gary Gereffi, a Duke professor of sociology and lead author of the study. “We don’t guess where the jobs are; we name them.”
Gereffi and his colleagues at Duke’s Center on Globalization, Governance and Competitiveness identify five eco-friendly technologies with serious growth potential. They include:
- LED lighting
- Concentrated solar power
- High-performance windows
- Back-up generators for long-haul trucks
- “Super Soil Systems” (a new way to treat hog waste)
States most likely to benefit are Ohio, Indiana, Arizona, Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and North Carolina.