U.S. "green economy" needs plan

By Timothy Gardner

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States should pass a comprehensive energy plan to ensure that the work force in environmental fields, such as renewable energy and cutting air pollution, will keep growing as it did in the decade to 2007, a Pew report said on Wednesday.

U.S. clean economy jobs grew at rate of 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007 to 770,385, faster than overall jobs during the decade, said the Pew Charitable Trusts study, which aims to set a baseline to judge how well public policies and investments foster green jobs in the future. In contrast, the traditional energy economy of oil, natural gas, and coal employed about about 1.2 million workers in 2007.

"We do believe our report points to trends that show a very promising future for the clean energy economy," Lori Grange, an expert on state policies at the Pew Charitable Trusts, told reporters in a teleconference.

"This sector is poised for explosive growth."

President Barack Obama has said he wants to create millions of "green collar" jobs.

In order to create that work force, more and wider policies are needed, according to the report, which can be found at www.pewtrusts.org/cleanenergyeconomy .

WIDER PLAN

"The (U.S. stimulus bill) has made important investments in spurring economic recovery and protecting the environment," said Phyllis Cuttino, the director of the U.S. global warming campaign at the Pew environment group.