Study: Renewable energy requirement creates jobs
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
As lawmakers consider new measures to combat climate change, researchers at UC Berkeley released a study saying stronger renewable energy requirements would lead to new jobs.
California law requires the state to get 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2020. A bill by Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, would increase that standard to 50 percent by 2030.
Because building renewable energy facilities is a temporary gig, the study uses measurements in “job years” to estimate how much work would be created. One “job year” equals enough work to employ somebody full time for a year.