Clean energy and other green jobs are up across the Midwest. While South Dakota has been part of that growth, it’s grown at a slower rate than regional counterparts.
In the clean energy field, South Dakota tallies over 12,500 jobs, a record for the state, and a 1.6% growth over 2024.
That growth rate reflects the broader Midwest, but the state is lagging other states for overall jobs in the field.
The only state with fewer clean energy jobs in the region is the natural gas-rich North Dakota. The top regional states are Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
South Dakota’s next closest peer is Nebraska, which has nearly 10,000 more clean energy jobs.
Micaela Preskill is the state manager for E2, a nonpartisan organization advocating for green policy and job creation. She spoke to reporters at the Clean Jobs Midwest 2025 web conference.
“This report we’re releasing today shows clean energy is a bright spot in the Midwest economy, and the future of clean energy depends on state leaders acting with urgency,” Preskill said.
Preskill adds as the federal government takes a backseat, it’s up to states to support renewable and clean jobs.
“The good news is we have states here in the Midwest that are already exemplifying clean energy leadership," Preskill said. "States like Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota. Beyond that, we’re looking to states to pass policies that will power data centers with clean energy. We’re looking for states to work collaboratively for new transmissions to be built, and to do what they can to fast-track renewable energy deployment before solar and wind tax credits expire.”
The report found South Dakota clean energy jobs are growing at nearly two times the rate of the overall economy.