A study released today estimates there are 22,600 "clean" jobs in the Baltmore area, but the growth here of employment in green energy, conservation and environmental services is trailing the nation as a whole.

The Brookings Institution reports that the region's "clean economy" jobs grew by 2.6 percent annually from 2003 to last year, ranking Baltimore 76th among the nation's 100 largest metro areas. Maryland overall fared somewhat better, with a 3.1 percent growth that ranked it 29th among states.

Report co-author Mark Muro told The Baltimore Sun's Jamie Smith Hopkins that the Baltimore area clean economy is dominated by slower-growing, mature industries such as waste management - which actually lost jobs in recent years, according to the report - and has fewer jobs in clean technology, which is showing rapid growth nationwide.

The Washington think tank contends that the clean economy offers great prospects for boosting employment and income without needing additional years of higher education, but that it won't realize its potential without a more focused national effort.

To see the report and more, go here.

(Workers insulating pipes to reduce home energy use. Baltimore Sun photo)