Coronavirus is wiping out clean energy jobs in the US
Clean energy jobs in the US are being wiped out ( ) on a massive scale ( ) by the economic shutdown ( ) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the advocacy ( ) and research group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). At least 106,400 jobs in the clean energy sector—for builders of electric vehicles, installers of solar panels ( ), energy efficiency retrofitters ( ), and more—were lost in March alone, the analysis found.
With many construction projects on hold ( ), companies slashing ( ) discretionary ( ) spending, and crucial clean energy tax credits up in the air, “those workforces are getting thrown to the sidelines ( ),” said Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, a fellow at the think tank ( ) Third Way and former Obama administration economist who was not involved in the E2 analysis. “Clean energy is one of the first things to get thrifted ( ) when you go into a downturn ( ).”
If the pattern continues, the sector could lose half a million jobs by the summer, E2 projects ( ), wiping out the growth of at least the last five years.
Most of the March job losses were in the energy efficiency sub-sector ( ), which involves upgrades to commercial and office buildings. With most of those closed and construction jobs put off ( ), there’s little work to be done.
April is likely to be “another ugly month,” Hughes-Cromwick said. The numbers aren’t likely to rebound ( ) for some time, even after social distancing measures are relaxed, she said: Consumer spending and capital investment by companies are both likely to remain tepid ( ), especially for non-essential services like clean energy, while the economy gets back on its feet ( ).
疫情重傷美國能源業
根據維權與研究組織「環境新創家」(Environmental Entrepreneurs，E2)的新數據，新冠肺炎大流行造成的經濟衰退大規模抹滅美國乾淨能源的工作。該分析指出，光是3月乾淨能源業就流失至少10萬6400份工作，包括電動車組裝工人、太陽能板安裝人員、節電裝潢人員等。
智庫Third Way研究人員兼前歐巴馬政府經濟學者艾倫‧休斯-克姆威克(Ellen Hughes-Cromwick)表示，許多建案停擺之際，企業開始刪減自由裁量支出，而且重要的乾淨能源稅務減免依舊無定論，「那些勞力就被丟到邊緣」；未參與E2分析的休斯-克姆威克指出：「乾淨能源是衰退時首先遭刪減的項目之一。」
E2預測，如果這種型式持續下去，乾淨能源業在夏季前可能流失50萬個工作，抹滅至少過去五年增加的工作機會。
3月流失的多數工作屬於節能子產業，包含商辦大樓的節能升級。多數大樓關閉而且施工延期，目前沒有什麼工作機會。
休斯-克姆威克表示，4月可能是「另一個難看的月份」。就算放寬社交距離措施，這個數字可能會有一段時間無法回升；她表示，經濟逐漸恢復時，消費者支出與企業資本投資可能依舊不溫不火，尤其是乾淨能源等非必要服務業。
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