“As Kansas continues to come out of the recession, we now have the tools to take advantage of our opportunities in the green economy, creating new jobs in the 21st century and becoming a national leader in this emerging market,” said Lt. Gov. Troy Findley.

A survey of more than 6,000 Kansas employers found that there are more than 20,000 green jobs, and that number is expected to increase to more than 30,000 by 2012.

“This gives us our first good look at the areas of the green economy where we have jobs today and where we’re likely to grow jobs in the future,” said Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Jim Garner.

Green jobs include the production of renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, agriculture and natural resource conservation, pollution prevention and environmental cleanup, and clean transportation and fuels.

The green jobs areas expected to experience the largest increase over the next two to three years are renewable energy, 121 percent; energy efficiency, 57 percent; and clean transportation and fuels, 37 percent, the report said.

“The survey shows clearly that the future demand for green skills and knowledge is significantly greater than the current demand,” said Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton. “That is good information to have as we co