Through the course of the last decade, the nationwide rate of job growth in renewable energy companies outstripped overall job growth by more than 2-1, according to the Pew Center on the States. As America continues to struggle in hard economic times, it has never been clearer that clean energy will be an important engine of recovery.

State lawmakers recognize the importance of energy innovation. Hundreds of state-level energy bills have been filed this year, and some of the most dramatic successes have occurred in the areas of wind and solar power promotion.

• In the past year, legislators in Iowa, Maine, and Kansas have passed significant bills designed to boost the development of local wind energy. Each bill was signed into law by the governor of the state.

• Lawmakers in New Jersey, West Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington all proposed and passed legislation to boost the solar energy industry. Each bill was signed into law by the governor of the state.

The success of these bills and the willingness of policymakers to invest in renewable energy—even during a recession—show just how far the energy debate has come.

It is no accident, however, that most of the clean energy success in 2009 has occurred in Democratically-controlled legislatures. While individual roll calls show Republicans slowly abandoning their opposition to clean energy promotion, this issue is historically a Democratic priority, and Democratic leaders are those taking initiative in this area.

To read the full report, click here.