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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Fixing the Economy with Green Jobs

A new report suggests that investing in clean energy could put people to work and stimulate economic growth.
By Kevin Bullis

President-elect Barack Obama recently called for stimulating the economy in part by direct government investment in clean energy, specifically in projects "building wind farms and solar panels." Through various "green" policies and investments, he hopes to create five million new jobs.

A new report from Deutsche Bank supports this approach. It argues that it's possible to address challenges related to climate change, energy security, and the financial crisis at the same time by investing in four specific areas: energy-efficient buildings, electric power grids, renewable power, and public transportation. The report cites figures that suggest investing in these areas creates more jobs than investing in conventional energy sources because much of the old energy infrastructure is already in place. It says that "a $100 billion investment in energy and efficiency would result in 2 million new jobs, whereas a similar investment in old energy [such as coal or natural gas] would only create around 540,000 jobs."

What's more, the report continues, when the government invests in a project, other investors line up to invest as well. It "unlocks" private-sector funding and partnerships.

Detractors say that clean energy can have a negative effect on jobs, since it tends to cost more. If energy costs are high enough, it could force companies to cut jobs.

Comments

  • Green Jobs and Bail Outs
    Pelosi and Company missed the boat the past few weeks, but since they are keeping their plans (or intentions) secret for the moment I'll offer up an idea.

    The Auto Industry is looking for help, but with no firm plans in place there is a stalemate between the governement and industry.

    Why not have the Feds ante up $50 billion to pay the auto industry to design and deploy a mass transit system using light rail technology. The tax funds would generate jobs for the industry and the profits from the work can shore up weak sales figures for the Big Three.

    The result -
    thousands of engineering jobs (mechanical and civil) would be generated. Once the design is approved, the idle plants in the midwest can be retrofitted to make the Light Rail System components thus generating well paying blue collar jobs (including steel mills), the installaiton of the solution will generate more jobs and the overall maintenance and operations of the solution will create sustainable jobs that cannot be off-shored.

    The end result - the auto industry gets paid for creating their competition in case they fail to make economical vehicles (that actually sell), they can make a buck in the process that is used to fund their development costs for economical vehicles, they have a shot at the long term manufacturing of replacement parts and tax payers are created.

    No direct loans to the Big Three - yet a viable option for everyones prosperity. Pelosi and company get their Green System that cuts Global Warming and reduces pollution. The petroleum industry finally gets true competition and reduced demand (and reduced costs at the pump). Consumers have choice between mass transit and individuality. The taxpayers don't bail out anyone since they funded a new system in the first place.

    Make this a national priority and tie it to Homeland Security so no blue collar strikes can occur, Cap management pay to set an example of good stewardship with taxpayer dollars and design it to use Biofuels, Solar Electric or good old US Clean Coal and we can kill OPEC once and for all.

    An entirely new mass transit system designed to be green would be a keystone for our nations economy and global health.

    If any nation on the planet can pull this off, it the U.S.of A!
    Rate this comment: 12345

    mkogrady
    12/01/2008
    Posts:198
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
    • Re: Green Jobs and Bail Outs
      Excellant post mkogrady.  Lets add high speed rail to those ideas.  We could use the existing rights of way on our Interstates to site high speed rail between cities.  It would be mounted on pylons above the crossovers and turnarounds and above weather (snow) problems.
      In a simple form, the trains would be suspended by tracks instead of running on tracks.
      Rate this comment: 12345

      ckmc
      12/02/2008
      Posts:1
      Avg Rating:
      5/5
      • Re: Green Jobs and Bail Outs
        Thanks - I posted this exactly as shown to the Detroit Free Press Newspaper too. The idea of adding high speed inter-city rail was a good addition and the suspended rail idea works too.

        The light rail system could be designed like Rollercoasters are done today to minimize the space it takes to place the rail systems.

        Go to Arrow Dynamics (or google suspended roller coaster) website and you'll see all the amusement rides they have built. Take the concept a step further and design it to carry suspended passenger cars instead (no G force stuff), but travel at a respectable 40 mpg or so - just to move people around.
        Rate this comment: 12345

        mkogrady
        12/02/2008
        Posts:198
        Avg Rating:
        3/5
    • Re: Green Jobs and Bail Outs
      I've heard many great arguments for increasing mass transit. But the argument has always been that people won't give up their cars. What do you think?
      Rate this comment: 12345

      Kevin Bullis
      12/02/2008
      Posts:92
      Avg Rating:
      4/5
      • Re: Green Jobs and Bail Outs
        I'm not suggesting we give up our cars, but if the government is actually thinking of giving billions away, why not make the Auto Industry earn it by taking their excess engineering talent and manufacturing plants that have been closed and put the to work making us a mass transit solution. As far as I'm concerned, they dug their own grave and should be allowed to make amends if they are so needy, but I am also stating - NO FREEBIES like the banks got. Getting screwed once is bad enough.

        I like my car, but a couple months ago we got clobbered by high fuel prices and we have no options but to pay. Gas is cheaper now, and there is no explaination what caused it to drop so far and so quickly. I say there was some market manipulation going on myself, but since there's no smoking gun - who can we blame? Mass transit may be a heck of a trump card for everyone.

        As for job creation, a light rail system becomes a Service Industry engine and is much more sustainable than Manufacturing. Service Jobs stay put in our borders!
        Rate this comment: 12345

        mkogrady
        12/02/2008
        Posts:198
        Avg Rating:
        3/5
    • Re: Green Jobs and Bail Outs
      Spending on new public transport systems is probably a good idea but please do not let the automotive companies manage any part of it.  They have proved their ability to read the future and to make good decisions.  Give the future a chance.

      If any country could make such a mistake as you suggest it is the good old US of A.  Time for change guys.
      Rate this comment: 12345

      pmclachlan
      12/02/2008
      Posts:3
      Avg Rating:
      2/5
  • gov't and car companies
    When the car companies get our tax dollars to keep them going, they should be required to look at ideas submitted by taxpayers. At this time, the car companies NEVER consider ideas from the outside.
    I have an invention that will make small cars safer in collisions.
    My website is www.safersmallcars.com

    Please help me if you can.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    shopa
    12/01/2008
    Posts:9
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
  • Government Created Green Jobs
    Government created jobs are just that, they might make up for some of the jobs lost this year but probably not produce a net gain.  While investment in infrastructure is good it does not replace profitable industry.  Bringing manufacturing and its related technology back by imposing import taxes would fix the job problem and also produce revenue; the import fees used to fund our re-industrialization.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    dmillerfla
    12/02/2008
    Posts:4
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
    • Re: Government Created Green Jobs
      sure, lets help to make the deficit even larger
      by making all those green jobs using union people
      who are overpaid compared to their non union counterparts by more than 25$/hr.

      I guess these are all just tax $ and the FED can print as many as they need without any problems to the economy?

      And then we will make import tariffs so we punish
      the taxpayers/consumers even more.

      Will this sort of insanity ever end?
      Rate this comment: 12345

      devassocx
      12/02/2008
      Posts:53
      Avg Rating:
      4/5
      • Re: Government Created Green Jobs
        Consider this:  What is the meaning of money?  In the last two months trillions of dollars have disappeared; vanished into thin air. If it can disappear so easily, why not just print a lot more?

        Money has no intrinsic value.  Even tangible comodities like oil can, with virtually no change in supply or demand, suddenly become worth twice as much and even more suddenly be worth one third of that. How do you make economic sense of that? 

        Maybe you are worried about the wrong thing-overpaid union workers.
        Rate this comment: 12345

        TooMany
        12/05/2008
        Posts:42
        Avg Rating:
        4/5
  • Bryce Z for "Fixing the Economy with Green Jobs"
    The US economic crisis deepened last month, in order to fix and alleviate this economic financial crisis the government invests different projects that will provide jobs to many. This is great discussion about the current issues our economy was facing today; people used different method in order to cope up with today’s financial crisis. One of the most common methods is a Payday loan and many people were taking advantage of payday loans as the economy continues to get worse. Consumer prices have taken record drops for the second month in a row. But as prices drop, unemployment soars, causing Americans to hang on tight to their cash. Housing starts are at a 50-year low. Retail giants Best Buy and Office Depot are taking hard financial hits.

    To read more on the economy and payday loans check out this article.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    BryceZ
    12/22/2008
    Posts:1
  • Sunlight in the current economic crisis
    One of the main factors that really affect the economical crisis today is the terrorism. The misunderstanding and war between the nations gives a very disastrous effect for the flow of the businesses and other local markets. Many would feel feared of what's going on. Payday loans can serve as sunlight if your finances get clouded under the darkness of a sudden expense. Many Americans are looking for sunlight in the current economic crisis, but take heart that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. 2008 taught us a lot of lessons, and 2009 is going to be the year when it all starts to rebound. Many people are looking into making more sound financial decisions – especially about spending and savings habits. Check out this article if you, too, are searching for good news during these dark days or to read more on payday loans.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    Harold C
    01/15/2009
    Posts:2
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