Fixing the Economy with Green Jobs
A new report suggests that investing in clean energy could put people to work and stimulate economic growth.
Kevin Bullis 11/26/2008
- 10 Comments
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.
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mkogrady
423 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!
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Guest (ckmc)
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.
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mkogrady
423 Comments
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.
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Kevin Bullis
177 Comments
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?
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mkogrady
423 Comments
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!
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pmclachlan
5 Comments
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.
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