MISHAWAKA | A new report, "Indiana's Road to Energy Independence," says Hoosier companies could create thousands of new green jobs by manufacturing components for wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy equipment.

Commissioned by the Blue-Green Action Alliance -- a public policy partnership of the Sierra Club, the United Steelworkers and Environment America -- the report says that 1,321 firms in Indiana could benefit from 39,221 new green jobs, including 25,180 from wind turbine manufacturing and 7,485 in solar manufacturing.

Prepared by the Renewable Energy Policy Project, the report indicates a program to develop renewable energy would create a demand for the component parts that make up renewable developments.

The report indicates there are more than 457 firms in Indiana active in industrial sectors that could supply the component parts to meet the demand necessary to deliver a 15 percent reduction in global-warming emissions.

"Why order wind turbines from Denmark to put up in South Bend, when we know that Indiana has the workers and the factories to make them right here in the state?" said LuCinda Hohmann, field organizer with Environment America.

"Turbines from Plymouth and solar panels from St John make sense for both the environment and Indiana's economy," she said. "Indiana's been blessed with the natural resources to help America fight global warming, now it's time for us to take advantage of Indiana's human resources to help put these smart energy solutions, and our citizens, to work."

The report states that a major commitment to renewable electric generation would reduce national security exposure, stabilize climate and provide a multi-billion-dollar investment and reindustrialization program that would lead to new job growth in Indiana.

"We are absolutely committed to making the world a safer place for our children, while revitalizing American manufacturing," said Jim Robinson, USW District 7 director. "The amazing potential for job creation held by clean energy component manufacturing and maintenance should make this an important part of Indiana's power agenda immediately."