Oregon's Renewable Energy Sector

Oregon's Renewable Energy Production and Generation Sector - as identified by the Oregon Green Jobs Council - includes firms that produce renewable energy from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, wave, bioenergy, small-hydro, and biofuels technologies.

More than 200 firms throughout Oregon produce renewable energy. Many of the firms in this sector use byproducts created early in their manufacturing cycle. Many public utilities and waste disposal facilities are capable of generating renewable energy as well.

The Oregon Employment Department has employment data for 13 firms that produce electricity from renewable sources in Oregon. Half of the firms are in the utilities sector, while most others are identified as manufacturers or management firms which produce renewable energy as a byproduct of - or in addition to - their normal business operations.

Quick Stats on Renewable Energy Employment Trends*

• Employment in this sector totaled 11,040 in 2009, a decrease of 8.8 percent (1,069 jobs) from 2004.

• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal agency included in this sector, grew by 100 jobs from 2004 to 2009.

• Total wages in renewable energy firms decreased slightly from 2008 to 2009, compared to a decrease of 7.2 percent for all non-federal employees.

• In 2009, the median number of hours worked for renewable energy firm employees was 517 hours, which was an increase of 20 hours since 2004.

* All stats cited are from the third quarter of the year

To learn more about this topic please see the full article, written by our Green Jobs Economist, Charlie Johnson (Charlie.B.Johnson@state.or.us, 503-947-3098).