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Table: Minnesota Green Economy Sectors


Download a version of  this table from the printed report.

 

 Minnesota Green Economy Sectors and Detailed Areas of Specialization
Fall 2009-Spring 2011

 

Detailed Segments

Estimated Green Vacancies

Examples of Products and Services

    1.  Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuel

Renewable Energy Generation & Distribution

Wind

203

Wind turbine maintenance; geotechnical surveying, design and construction of cement foundations for wind turbines

Geothermal

34

R&D, installation, and sale of geothermal technologies

Solar (thermal and power systems)

21

Design and installation of commercial solar systems

Waste-to-energy (feedstocks include solid, agricultural, and other biowaste materials) 

13

Solid waste incineration to produce electric and thermal energy, landfill gas methane recovery and use

 

Renewable energy services (not source-specific)

13

Infrastructure development (storage devices for renewable energy, high-voltage power grid design, construction permitting)

Alternative Fuel

Biofuel/biomass

134

Ethanol production, biomass fuel pellets manufacturing, logging operations that harvest waste-wood for biomass, agricultural biomass for power and fuels

Other

Other clean energy technologies

14

Co-generation; fuel cells, nano-materials, and thin film manufacturing

    2.  Energy and Resource Efficiency

Design

Green architecture and construction services

34

Sustainable design services, LEED certification services, low-impact development practices

Energy Efficient Technologies

Energy-efficient construction services

243

Building inspection, plumbing, radiant floor heating, roofing, electrical work

Energy-efficient HVAC and building control systems manufacturing and installation/repair

411

HVAC systems, wireless sensors, energy-efficient building retrofits

Energy-saving construction supplies, appliances, and consumer goods manufacturing and installation/repair

276

Energy-efficient windows, roofs, insulation

Energy-efficient building operations and professional energy management services

48

Energy auditing and commissioning, energy analysis, boiler operations

Energy storage technologies manufacturing

99

Energy storage/harvesting solutions, lithium and other advanced batteries, energy efficient data storage solutions

Advanced lighting products

<10

LED lighting, lighting controls

Efficiency of the electric power grid (manufacturing and services)

64

Substation automation, advanced metering and control technologies, Smart Grid applications (software programs, demand response)

Resource-efficient precision instruments and industrial process automation device manufacturing

15

Flow control systems; thermostats, energy measuring systems; smart meters; pumps; instruments for the detection of  environmental changes (temperature or humidity, water leakage, power failures)

Water Conservation & Recovery

Water conservation practices and technologies

<10

Grey water recovery, water recycling, water reduction

    3.  Pollution Control, Remediation, and Waste Management

Pollution Control & Remediation

Remediation services

130

Evaluation and remediation of contaminated sites, clean up, brownfield redevelopment, emergency response, asbestos removal

Professional environmental services (investigation)

50

Environmental site assessments, hydrological assessments and wetland delineation, air quality consulting, air and water quality monitoring, infrastructure and facility design for environmental purposes such as stormwater management

Air pollution control and monitoring equipment manufacturing and operations

48

Industrial ventilation systems, dust collectors, industrial air quality and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, installing and doing feasibility studies for pollution control equipment

Waste Management

Waste treatment and end of life disposal

62

Hazmat removal services, landfills design, solid and organic (food) wastes composting

    4. Pollution Prevention

Resource Recovery

Recycling and reuse, both services and manufacturing

547

Recyclables collection and sorting, sale of second-hand and refurbished products

Recycled-content goods and sustainable packaging manufacturing

148

Goods that contain recycled content, packaging that uses less material

Sustainable Materials

Sustainable materials manufacturing, including R&D and commercialization 

26

Green chemistry (biopolymers, biodegradable products, coatings, biocomposites); non-toxic paints, non-toxic cleaning and toiletry products

Services specializing in the use of low-impact, non-toxic materials

26

Construction, industrial and interior design, maintenance, and cleaning services specializing in the use of sustainable materials

Transportation

Green transportation technologies manufacturing

20

Low-emission vehicles and equipment such as electric and hybrid vehicles, natural gas vehicles; diesel technology; vehicle components/engines, catalytic converters

Public mass transit

70

Bus and rail operations; mass transit planning and engineering

Processes

Waste minimization processes

26

Lean manufacturing and supply chain operations

    5. Water Treatment and Conservation

Treatment

Wastewater treatment services

42

Wastewater process and facility design, filtering and purification operation, plant operations, environmental analysis

Water treatment and purification products (design, manufacturing, installation, specialized sale)

40

Water treatment filters, pumps, and valves

Management &  Conservation

Stormwater management and conservation design

30

Low impact landscaping services; bank stabilization; stream restoration, floodplain analysis, stormwater recovery products

    6.  Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation

Sustainable Agriculture

Organic food and sustainable farming

60

Organic/sustainable nurseries, promoting sustainable farming practices and conservation techniques such as manure management and feedlots

Natural Resource Conservation

Resource conservation and habitat/wildlife restoration

405

Forestry management/reforestation, wetland and prairie restoration, wildlife protection, nature park maintenance

Land management and environmental planning

60

Soil management to prevent stream water pollution, land acquisition, environmental surveying and planning

 

    7.  Environmental Regulation, Compliance, Research, Advocacy, Education, and Other Support Services

Business Support Services

Regulation and compliance

149

Air quality permitting, greenhouse gas emissions inventories, Environmental Health and Safety compliance, sustainable products certification

Market research, business development, and corporate planning

5

Analysis of market demand for green products for commercialization, sustainability planning

Advocacy & Education

Research, advocacy, public awareness, education and training

294

Academic research on environmental topics, advocacy and fundraising for conservation-related issues, deliver vocational training in “green” skilled trades, educate the public on energy conservation measures

 

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