An environmental group says investment in clean energy could create several hundred-thousand jobs in California while also reducing global warming pollution.
The Natural Resources Defense Council report says an $18.5 billion investment in clean energy could add 175,000 new jobs in the state.
The money would come from federal stimulus funds and a bill now being considered in Congress - the American Clean Energy Security Act.
Ann Nottoff with the Natural Resources Defense Council says shifting to a clean-energy economy will help millions of low-income Californians.
"And taken together these type of investments would produce lots of jobs in California and lots of jobs for people of all education levels," says Nottoff.
She says investing in clean energy and efficiency will reduce global warming pollution.
Notthoff says the combination of stimulus funds and the energy bill under consideration in Congress could create a net gain of 1.7 million new jobs nationally.
She says the improvements in energy efficiency could reduce the living costs of homeowners and renters by about three-percent.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.
