08/14/2013

Department Of Interior Releases 2012 Economic Impact Report

The U.S. Department of the Interior contributed over $371 billion dollars to the domestic economy in 2012, according to the agency's latest Economic Impact Report. Secretary Sally Jewell summarized the agency's goals succinctly, "The missions of the Department of the Interior contribute to our nation's economy in ways big and small," she said. "From the billions in revenues generated from oil and gas development, to the jobs created from tourism to our national parks and public lands, Interior's activities are an important source of business development and employment for communities and families in all 50 states."

According to the report, DoI activities supported 2.3 million jobs in 2012. Recreational activities from U.S. parks alone yielded $45 billion in economic output and supported 372,000 direct jobs. The agency's Bureau of Land Management also added a total of 804 megawatts of solar and wind power on public lands, along with 47.5 terawatt hours of hydropower. The combined economic impact of renewable energy contributed $4.4 billion and sustained 18,000 jobs.

But the efforts that remain difficult to quantify are often the most important, including conservation efforts that benefit fragile ecosystems and wildlife. "These actions have very real contributions to communities, citizens and property values and make us rich in ways that can't be counted," said Secretary Jewell. To read the full report, visit the DoI's interactive online report and summary. To read the official press release, click here.