Pew researcher Phyllis Cuttino stated, “Despite the state being an oil-producing state, it has engaged in policies that are going to grow these other sectors of the economy, which we would applaud.”

She stated that the only significant clean energy policy missing in Texas is restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.

The report comes as officials in Texas debate whether lawmakers have done enough to attract those clean energy jobs.

Gov. Rick Perry has highlighted to Texas’ growth in wind energy potential as showing success in the clean energy sector. Texas has more wind energy potential in comparison to any other state, according to a 2009 American Wind Energy Association report, and is building power lines to support even more.

At the same time, he has warned Washington politicians that greenhouse gas regulations would kill jobs and economic growth here because of the large fossil fuel industry.

In 2008, the oil and natural gas industry contributed 16.5 percent of Texas’ gross state product and employed 367,967 people, dwarfing the clean energy industry’s numbers .

Still, according to the Pew study, Texas has attracted more jobs and investment than most states. The state was No. 3 in terms of venture capital investment in clean energy, behind California and Massachusetts.

Pew counted jobs in five categories: clean energy production, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly production, conservation and pollution mitigation, and training and support.

Preservation and pollution mitigation is responsible for the largest number of jobs now, but the environmentally friendly production and clean energy production categories are growing at a rapid clip, the study states.

Pew indicates that the jobs aren’t just temporary construction work but involve many permanent positions, a long with high-income jobs.

The study concludes that greenhouse gas regulations would create even more jobs, as energy companies develop low-carbon energy sources. But the study doesn’t indicate whether the jobs might come at the expense of fossil fuel positions.