More Workers in Nevada Advanced Energy than in Real Estate,
More than Double in Mining, with 7% Growth Expected in 2019

The Silver State now boasts nearly 34,000 advanced energy jobs, up 31% last year, 10 times overall job growth in the state

CARSON CITY, December 5, 2019 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released a fact sheet reporting that Nevada has 33,900 people working in advanced energy across the state. This represents more workers than those in Real Estate (27,591), and more than double those working in Mining (12,906) across the Silver State.

Nevada advanced energy jobs grew a stunning 31% last year (over 2017), 10 times the state’s overall jobs growth rate (3.1%), with most of this increase associated with Tesla’s Gigafactory 1, a battery and electric vehicle subassembly plant located near Reno.

"These latest jobs numbers show that Nevadans around the state are reaping the benefits of an expanding advanced energy job market,” said Sarah Steinberg, Policy Principal for Nevada at Advanced Energy Economy.

The 2018 Nevada employment data* showed:

• Advanced Generation led advanced energy employment with 12,500 workers, most working in solar (9,777), and notable numbers in geothermal (413) and bioenergy (475).
• Energy efficiency supported more than 11,200 jobs, most in high-efficiency and renewable heating, cooling and air conditioning technologies.
• Advanced Grid and Energy Storage technologies supported 8,800 jobs, up significantly from 2017, with most in energy storage (8,322).
• Advanced Vehicles accounted for 1,300 jobs in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Strong 7% jobs growth in the state is expected by employers this year.
• Top 5 counties were: Clark (15,700 workers), Storey (8,100), Washoe (6,400), Douglas (1,100), and Elko (710).

"With employers expecting to add 7% more jobs this year, it’s clear that the future of the Nevada economy lies within the advanced energy sector," said Steinberg. "However, this type of growth cannot happen without smart, forward-looking policies. We commend the Sisolak Administration and the Nevada Legislature for their hard work to date."

Gov. Steve Sisolak is following through on his stated desire to make Nevada a national advanced energy leader. Last month, Sisolak signed Executive Order 2019-22, directing state agencies to develop a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the highest emitting sectors. It also seeks to better align existing agency efforts under the state’s clean energy and climate commitments, including newly increased renewable energy requirements and efforts to bolster in-state energy production and advanced energy deployment.

In May, the Governor signed a new, stronger clean energy standard into law. The bill, SB 358, sponsored by Sen. Chris Brooks, doubles the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), to 50% by the year 2030. It passed both houses of the legislature without a single no vote.

*Data and Analysis:
These figures for 2018 employment were derived from data collected for the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and collected and analyzed by BW Research Partnership, as well as data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About Advanced Energy Economy:
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. Engaged at the federal level and in more than a dozen states around the country, including Nevada, AEE represents more than 100 companies in the $238 billion U.S. advanced energy industry, which employs 3.5 million U.S. workers. Learn more at www.aee.net and track the latest news @AEEnet.