Survey finds 96,000 clean-energy jobs in Illinois

A new survey by a Chicago-based nonprofit group finds Illinois has more than 96,000 people working in clean-energy jobs, and the number should top 100,000 this year.

The survey results released Thursday by the Clean Energy Trust found the growth in those jobs stalled in 2013. The group in part blames the expiration of a federal wind-energy tax credit.

The trust says it surveyed about 1,600 companies. Forty percent said they plan to add workers in 2014.

The survey found that more than a third of the clean-energy jobs were in engineering, research, manufacturing and assembly jobs. Many others are in heating and air-conditioning work that includes energy-efficiency upgrades.

The trust works with businesses, universities and others to promote the growth of clean-energy business in the Midwest.