RALEIGH – North Carolina added some 3,700 clean tech energy jobs in 2018, increasing the industry sector’s employment total to some 110,000, according to a new report.

The “clean vehicles sector” led the way, generating more than 1,000 jobs, a 19.5 percent jump from 2017, to a total of 7,200.

And of the overall jobs total, some 25 percent are in rural areas.

The report’s census of jobs” is more than double the total reported just weeks ago by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, which cited 43,000 jobs.

Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Entrepreneurs says North Carolina ranks eighth among clean tech jobs with Wake, Durham, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Montgomery counties leading the way in jobs per capita. Mecklenburg has the most jobs at more than 20,000 followed by Wake at 17,000-plus.

“Just like agriculture, biotech and banking before, clean energy is helping reshape North Carolina’s economy once again – and creating thousands of good-paying jobs along the way,” said Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2, in announcing the report’s findings on Thursday. “Lawmakers now have the opportunity to keep those jobs growing by implementing the right suite of policies that are already in the works.”

North Carolina already ranks as one of the nation’s top producers of solar energy.

The clean tech sector also is a growing part of the Triangle’s tech economy with more than 350 companies, according to the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster.

Most of the cleantech energy jobs – 86,500, up 2,500 year-over-year – in the state are in efforts to improve energy efficiency.

The solar sector is responsible for 9,000 jobs.

According to E2, North Carolina’s energy economy is responsible for 212,172 jobs in all.

“These jobs numbers are proof clean energy solutions will continue to be a worthwhile investment in North Carolina’s economic future,” said Veronica Butcher, E2’s North Carolina Representative, in a statement. “The advancements highlighted in the report show businesses are creating jobs for North Carolinians that cannot be outsourced while shifting the state to clean energy future.”