These jobs, which may have been saved by the cash grant program, are not included in the LBNL estimate, which is thus likely on the conservative side.

FORBES: Media Controversy Over Stimulus-Funded Clean Energy Grant Program Lacks Substance

But that estimate, often invoked by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), is corroborated by a recent study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) on the job creation impacts of the grant program that explicitly excludes jobs associated with the Bush-era projects.

FORBES: Media Controversy Over Stimulus-Funded Clean Energy Grant Program Lacks Substance

Indeed, of the nearly 6.2 GW of newly installed wind energy projects that elected the cash grant incentive, the LBNL analysts discount nearly 60% of them as projects for which the grant may not have been essential for completion (e.g. projects were already completed or would have otherwise been able to utilize the production tax credit, or PTC, to help finance the projects).

FORBES: Media Controversy Over Stimulus-Funded Clean Energy Grant Program Lacks Substance