Clean Energy Jobs, Opportunity

On June 26, 2009 the House of Representatives approved one of the most significant national economic development proposals in U.S. history. In proposing a limit on climate-changing pollution and providing enormous federal investment in manufacturers of clean energy equipment and energy conserving industrial practices, the American Clean Energy and Security Act is designed to accelerate job growth and scale up the clean energy economic transition already unfolding in the United States.

In spite of its breakthrough capacity to generate a new era of prosperity, opportunity, and security the climate and energy bill, which has moved to the Senate, faces huge political obstacles erected by the oil, coal, and utilities industries and their allies in Congress and the conservative media. The central arguments against the proposal is that the bill will cost American jobs, and raise business and family expenses.

Fact: Energy efficiency projects, like this one in Seattle, generate jobs and lower costs.

The entire critique is false. The very same arguments were used by opponents two generations ago to try and derail the major U.S. environmental statutes to clean the air, clear the waters, protect species, and protect Americans from toxic wastes. Those statutes proved to be enormously beneficial to the American economy and quality of life. Those statutes also were put into effect at much lower cost than critics and the government initially contended.

Fun Fact on Economy: The American economy -- in constant 2000 dollars adjusted for inflation -- is nearly three times larger today ($11.4 trillion in 2009) than it was in the 1970s ($4.4 trillion) when most of the core U.S. environmental statutes were enacted.

U.S. Climate Action Network and its partner organizations are busy telling the true business, jobs, and safety  story of the climate and energy bill. Check back here frequently for facts to advance the historically significant new narrative of American progress that the American Clean Energy and Security Act represents.

Fun Fact on Cost: Rate payers can expect big increases in their electricity bills from building new coal-powered generating stations. In Michigan, developers of several new windfarms say they are making a profit selling their power for 11 cents a kilowatt hour. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, though, ratepayers have been informed by WE Energies that they can expect a 33 percent rate increase on their bills starting next year. The Wisconsin-based utility is completing two 625-megawatt coal-fired plants at a cost of $2.3 billion.  Residential electricity rates will jump to 12 to 14 cents a kilowatt-hour. What they haven't told ratepayers is that cost of electricity will continue to climb as the operating costs of the plant and coal rise.

Universities, states and the federal government, and non-profit research groups have amassed an enormous body of thoroughly researched evidence on clean energy investments, jobs, and costs. The research  proves that a focused federal effort to limit emissions of carbon pollution and invests in clean energy equipment and technology set the nation on a course to new prosperity that produces millions of new jobs, vast business opportunities, and a new era of security and safety.

The Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Center for American Progress (CAP) released “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean-Energy” and the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Green for All released “Green Prosperity: How Clean-Energy Policies Can Fight Poverty and Raise Living Standards in the United States.”

A recent University of Massachusetts study found investing in clean energy projects like wind power and mass transit creates three-to-four times more jobs than the same expenditure on the oil industry. The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that energy efficiency measures alone can create over 100,000 jobs over the next two years and reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 200 million metro tons.

Extensive research confirms the economic opportunities from serious investments in clean energy and transportation:

• Clean Energy Economy (Pew Charitable Trusts)
• High Road or Low Road? Job Quality in the New Green Economy (Sierra Club)
• Climate Change as an Economic Stimulus (Center for Climate Strategies)
• Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy (Political Economy Research Institute)
• Green Jobs Report (U.S. Conference of Mayors)
• Energy Efficiency in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)
• Jobs Impact of a National Renewable Electricity Standard

Key state-by-state analysis of clean economy job opportunities:

• Less Carbon, More Jobs (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Repower America: In the States (Alliance on Climate Protection)
• Job Opportunities in a Green Economy (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Blue-Green Jobs (Sierra Club & Blue-Green Alliance)
• Cashing in on Clean Energy (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth In the U.S. (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Labor groups see the economic opportunity of clean energy jobs:

• United Steelworkers Letter in Support of H.R. 2454 (June 25, 2009)
• AFL-CIO Letter to Congress Supporting the American Clean Energy and Security Act (June 25, 2009)
• Letter from Building and Construction Dept of AFL-CIO in Support of H.R. 2454 (June 24, 2009)
• Blue Green Alliance Letter Urging Congress to Pass H.R. 2454 (June 22, 2009)

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