|
The
U.S. Energy and Employment Report https://www.energy.gov/policy/us-energy-employment-jobs-report-useer
showed employment in manufacturing of cleaner vehicles and
components -- whether hybrid electric, full battery electric,
plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell -- rose about 64,500 or
about 25% from last year. Overall jobs in motor vehicles rose
228,100, up 9.8%, it said.
Meanwhile, employment in petroleum fuels fell about 31,600, or
6.4%, from last year as the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand.
The report covered the job picture before Russia's Feb. 24, 2022
invasion of Ukraine and rising fuel demand spurred gasoline
prices to record levels and pushed the administration of
President Joe Biden to plead with oil companies to boost oil
drilling and refinery output.
It was also before the implementation of billions of dollars in
subsidies and investments in last year's infrastructure law for
energy efficiency, nuclear power, and the building of hubs for
hydrogen, a gas that can be mixed with natural gas or used in
fuel cell vehicles.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters the report
showed "good news to build on" to reach Biden's clean energy
goals, including decarbonizing the economy by 2050, even though
the window is narrowing for Congress to pass further climate
legislation. "We're going to need more, more especially clean
energy tax credits from Congress if we're going to turbo-charge
this progress and create millions more good paying, high quality
jobs," Granholm said.
Jobs in solar energy rose about 17,500 or about 5.4%, while wind
power jobs rose about 3,350, or 2.9%, the report said.
About 10% of workers in energy were unionized in 2021, compared
to 6% in the overall private sector, it said. The report did not
compare the unionization figures to last year as its methodology
had changed, Energy Department officials told reporters.
Granholm said jobs in the U.S. oil business should rise in 2022
as drillers produce more to meet demand as the pandemic eases
and as Russia's invasion removes petroleum from global markets.
"We want to see an increase in supply," Granholm said about
petroleum. "But ultimately, most project that there will be a
demand curve that comes down and that this transition (to
cleaner energy) will happen," she said.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
