The 21st century world needs more energy than ever before.

Yet the employment picture in the fossil-fuel industry is a dismal one. While the demand for coal-produced power caused U.S. coal production to increase nearly one-third in the last twenty years of the 20th century, coal mining jobs, thanks to automation, decreased by nearly two-thirds. And the decrease is expected to continue.

But, as the upward trend in fossil fuel costs continues, it will open new areas of employment in the alternative energy industry.

In 2004, a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that, if the percentage of renewable alternative energy based electricity consumed in America increased to 20% by 2020, it would result in an additional 355,000 jobs being added to the U.S. economy–more than enough to compensate for the total loss of coal-related jobs over the preceding four decades.

Also in 2004, a Renewable Energy Policy Project report indicated that a five-fold increase in the U.S.’ alternative energy wind capacity would not only create 150,000 jobs, but also generate an additional $20 billion in the economy.

The alternative energy biofuel and heating industries too are primed for significant job growth; the increased use of ethanol as an alternative energy fuel added, in 2005 alone, 154,000 jobs, bringing $5.7 billion income to America’s workers.

An additional advantage of transitioning from fossil to alternative energy fuels?

Decreased fossil fuel demand might lead to decreased fossil fuel prices, smaller gasoline and home heating bills, and more discretionary income for consumers to pump into the economy, causing job growth beyond the alternative energy sector.

And with alternative energy biofuels being produced in agricultural areas from plant material, animal wastes, and landfills, an alternative energy boom could rejuvenate the rural economies of America.

New York Senator Charles Schumer, in addressing a consortium of leaders from twenty of New York State’s alternative energy companies, may have said it best.

In describing the potential for an alternative energy employment and economic boom in New York State, he told them,” “Alternative energy will do for the Capital Region what microchips did for Silicon Valley.”