Ohio clean energy and clean transportation jobs grew by 4.6% in 2022, second only to Kansas and in a tie with Michigan, according to a new jobs report.

Also, Ohio ranked third among 12 Midwest states for number of jobs in the sector with 114,395, the Clean Jobs Midwest Report states.

Among the dozen states, clean energy and clean transportation companies employed 734,573 Midwesterners at the end of 2022, growing by more than 25,000, which is about a 3.6% increase, according to the report.

“What we see in both large and small firms is the growth of jobs in this sector,” Ian Adams, managing director of Evergreen Climate Innovations, said. “Companies are expanding facilities, hiring and introducing new technologies into the region.”

“Midwest clean energy jobs actually grew by more than 3% in 2022, which is 50% faster than the region’s overall economy,” Adams said.

The growth was driven by clean transportation — a sector that includes electric vehicles and EV supply chain — which grew by 11% and added more than 12,000 jobs.

EV-related jobs accounted for much of the sector’s growth, the report states.

Energy efficiency continued to be the largest sector, which makes up more than 66% of the Midwest’s clean energy workforce.

“The 487,285 energy efficiency workers in the Midwest manufacture ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, install efficient lighting, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and install advanced building materials in home and commercial buildings,” the report states.

Renewable energy jobs in solar grew 6% and in wind, by 2%. Subsectors such as battery storage technologies grew 7%, and grid modernization grew 12%, the report states.

IN THE VALLEY

Rick Stockburger, president and CEO of BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren, participated in a call last week that coincided with the release of the report by Evergreen Climate Innovations and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2).

He pointed to job growth at Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to mass produce battery cells for EVs. Last year at this time, the plant in Lordstown, he said, employed about 1,100 workers.

The latest jobs number from the company is about 1,400.

“They just announced they are going to up production to 1,700 jobs right here in Voltage Valley,” Stockburger said.

He also cited Foxconn, which employs about 400 workers at its EV auto making plant in Lordstown, the former GM assembly plant.

“BRITE is proud of our ecosystem that we have built,” Stockburger said. “Our startups that we engage with are currently employing over 3,000 people in Ohio … and growing clean energy technologies.”

Also, Stockburger talked about how Made in America clauses in federal legislation have drawn interest from foreign manufacturers. He said he’s fielding calls from across the world, and “the thing they keep asking is, how do we build a plant in the Midwest,” he said.

“I’m really, really excited about all of these opportunities,” Stockburger said.

rselak@tribtoday.com