A new report report from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council says:
Overall, 500,000 new tech jobs were added to the American economy between 2003 and 2010, at an annual growth rate of 3.4 percent.
26% of the new tech economy is comprised of manufacturing jobs, jobs that draw on the strengths of current Wisconsin businesses.
Renewable electricity generation is predicted to grow by 40 percent over the next 5 years.
Wisconsin has an opportunity to lead the nation in the development of biogas as a viable fuel alternative. Currently there are enough corn stalks, wood chips, and switchgrass in Wisconsin to replace 40% of our gasoline and half our coal use while putting $14 billion back into the state economy.
Wisconsin already has more anaerobic biodigesters than any state, with 22 on-farm and 31 total systems.
Wisconsin currently has more than 12,000 people employed in supplying the solar or wind sector.
In Wisconsin over 300 companies either produce, sell or install wind power components, with 40 new companies identified in last year alone.
135 Wisconsin companies are part of the solar photovoltaic industry.
America now generates more kilowatt hours of renewable energy than any country in the world.
Solar and wind are increasingly cost-competitive with conventional generating capacity.
More solar and wind generating capacity was installed last year than conventional generating capacity.
Renewable energies are a hedge against uncertainty in the price of fossil fuels.
Renewable technologies will require access to capital to support private investment. Particularly given recent stresses in financial markets, the government role in ensuring both access to capital and a fair market could result in a more diverse mix of energy resources in Wisconsin.