April 7, 2008 10:02 AM

More 'green' jobs in Massachusetts
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 10:02 AM

Massachusetts: The green state?

As many companies around the state and the nation continue to shed jobs, one industry seems to be gaining steam: the 'green' sector. Gas prices are high and show no sign of slowing down, so a brighter spotlight continues to be placed on energy efficiency, whether in the home, in the car, or at the workplace.

A story in the Globe's Sunday real estate section focused on a home in Westport that is being built to be completely 'off the grid' by using a wind turbine for power and geothermal wells to heat and cool the home. Although such things are expensive, they save money over time. And as traditional energy costs continue to grow, it seems logical that the use of new energy technologies will grow as well. So it's no surprise that many companies devoted to 'green' power and energy-saving techniques are expanding.

One such company is Evergreen Solar Inc., a business in Marlborough that creates solar-powered products. The Globe's Sacha Pfeiffer reports in Monday's Globe that the company will double the size of its manufacturing facility in Harvard. The company will also add about 350 jobs, many of them being production jobs, along with some technician, engineering, and supervisory positions.

The move, which helps position Massachusetts as a national hub for clean-energy industries, is the second phase of a growth plan that would more than triple Evergreen's workforce from its current 300 workers to about 1,000.

Evergreen's decision to significantly bolster its presence in the state is a victory for Governor Deval Patrick's administration, which has vowed to make Massachusetts a leader in clean energy, such as wind and solar power.

Last year, Evergreen selected the former Fort Devens for a solar panel factory that would generate about 350 jobs. That plant, funded in part by a $44 million state incentive package, will open this summer.

Although the company was wooed with slightly better financial incentives from other states, it decided to stay and grow in Massachusetts because of the Patrick administration's focus on alterntative energy in the state, according to Evergreen's president and chief executive, Richard Feldt. And Evergreen isn't the only company to see Massachusetts as a great place for green companies:

Besides Evergreen, the state recently attracted a wind blade research facility that will be built near the Tobin Bridge. In addition, Greatpoint Energy, a Cambridge company that specializes in coal and natural gas conversion technology, is building a pilot facility in Somerset.

So, are you interested in a green job? Last November, the Globe Magazine profiled a few of the professions in the eco-friendly industry, as well as their salary ranges, eduction requirements, and job outlook. Check out the photo gallery here to get a sampling of just what some of these green jobs entail.

Also, be sure to check out Boston.com's Green Living page at boston.com/green, as well as the Green Blog for the latest in everything environmentally friendly.