Report reveals Arizona ranks third for most new clean energy jobs in BIPOC communities
Arizona ranks third for the most new clean energy jobs in BIPOC communities, with 12,720 jobs and companies investing upward of $8 billion.
That’s according to a new report from climate action advocacy organization Climate Power.
The “Clean Energy Boom In Communities of Color” report also indicates that a majority of clean energy projects are in communities of color — 201 out of 272 projects tracked nationally, to be exact.
This equates to bringing in 111,776 new jobs to diverse communities across the United States from a variety of industries.
“The administration’s clean energy plan is a great first step in ensuring America’s clean energy boom is accessible to communities of color,” said Antonieta Cadiz, deputy executive director of Climate Power, En Acción in a statement.
Cadiz also stated that nearly three-fourths of the clean energy job growth has been in communities of color.
Since the August 2022 passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, clean energy companies have announced or implemented 272 projects accounting for 170,606 new clean energy jobs in 44 states, generating $278 billion.
In addition, 74% of the projects and 66% of the jobs are located in communities of color throughout the country — Arizona ranks high in several categories tracked by the study.
“Arizona continues to be a magnet for clean energy jobs thanks to our robust talent pipeline and thriving advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “These investments are game-changing for communities across our state, providing skills training, a good-paying job, and opportunity to work in a fast-growing sector that’s making a difference.”
The report was generated based on information from announcements made from the private sector after passage of the act to illustrate the impact of national clean energy efforts on the economy and direct benefits to the communities of color.
Data from the 2020 U.S. Census was used to define communities of color populations.
Other findings include:
- Arizona is No. 1 in top five states for clean energy jobs in Hispanic/Latino communities.
- Arizona is No. 1 in top five states for clean energy jobs in Native American communities.
- Arizona is No. 1 in top five states for clean energy jobs in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander communities.
- AZ-4 ranks No. 2 out of the top 10 congressional districts across the country with 6,400 new clean energy jobs in communities of color.
- Arizona ranks No. 3 out of the 10 top states with new clean energy jobs in communities of color at 12,720 jobs.
- Arizona ranks No. 4 in top 10 projects with the largest investment in communities of color. LG Energy Solution (LGES) announced it would invest $5.6 billion in a gigafactory at its Queen Creek operation in Pinal County, whose population is 28.6% Hispanic/Latino, 4% Native American and 0.3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
- Out of 201 projects located in communities of color across 39 states, Arizona is in the top 10 with projects totaling more than $5 billion in investments.
- Two companies with operations in Arizona rank nationally in the top 10 clean energy job projects in communities of color, including No. 1 Idaho-based KORE Power (NYSE: KORE), a developer of battery cell technology with operations in Buckeye. The city’s population is 30.6% Hispanic/Latino, 1.5% Native American and 0.2% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Also cracking the top 10 was No. 9 LGES, which is based in South Korea.