Climate Fast Facts: South Dakota

Clean Businesses (2007)	Clean Jobs (2007)	Clean Job Growth (1998-2007)	Overall Job Growth (1998-2007)	Jobs Gained (2008-2009)

169	1,636	93.4%	4.9%	2,980

Climate and Energy Resources

Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Global Warming & South Dakota (National Wildlife Federation)
Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

Job growth is rocketing up -- 93.4% -- in South Dakota's clean energy industry with huge potential seen in wind energy. South Dakota was see a net increase of about $390 million in investment revenues and 5,000 jobs if a $150 billion investment was made in clean energy nationwide, reducing the state's unemployment rate by 1.1 percent.

Clean Energy Jobs Overview (Environmental Defense Fund)
Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in South Dakota (Center for American Progress/PERI)
Green Prosperity: How Clean-Energy Policies Can Fight Poverty and Raise Living Standards in South Dakota (Natural Resources Defense Council & Green For All)
Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in South Dakota (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

South Dakota ranks 4th for potential wind energy in the United States, but is currently ranked only 17th in wind energy output. Investment in a clean-energy economy in South Dakota would produce 5,272 jobs, over 2,700 for workers with high school degrees or less.

ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments-SD (Environment Northeast)

Charting a New Path for South Dakota’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
The Clean Energy Economy: South Dakota (Pew Environment Group)
Renewable Energy Works: South Dakota

Cut Costs

The average family in South Dakota would save a net $10.90 per month on their energy bills and vehicle fuel costs combined if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
Analysis of Allowances to States, Energy Consumers Under HR 2454 (World Resources Institute)
Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in South Dakota under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
Cumulative Natural Gas & Electricity Savings from a National RES (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

Heavy rainfalls will increase, with big storms historically seen only once every 20 years instead coming every 4 to 6 years by the end of the century. Flooding and severe flooding will be especially devastating for crops and lead to increase cases of waterborne diseases.

Heavy Rainfall and Increased Flooding Risk: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Central United States (National Wildlife Federation)
Global Climate Change Impacts in the Great Plains (U.S. Global Change Research Program)
Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Great Plains Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

The Corn and Climate Report (US Climate Change Science Program)
A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of HR 2454 on U.S. Agriculture (USDA)

Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Action

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, South Dakota has partnered with 10 other states or provinces as an observer to form the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord to combat the dual threats of climate change and energy security.