Two reports conducted by four cooperating groups show that investing in sustainability (energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofits) can create 1.7 million new jobs, which far outpaces the same investment in fossil-fuel industries. Released last week by Green for All, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), the two studies, entitled "Green Prosperity" and "The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy," highlight the positive effects of investing $150 billion per year in energy-efficient and clean-energy technologies. A portion of these dollars has already been earmarked by the federal stimulus package; also included is funding to come from the Waxman-Markey bill currently working its way through Congress.
According to Robert Pollin, co-director of PERI, "Investing [$1m] in clean energy...will generate 16.7 jobs; correspondingly, investing in fossil fuels generates about 5.3 jobs." And Phaedra Ellis-Lampkin, Green for All's chief executive, says "almost 900,000 of the estimated 1.7 million jobs created through these investments would be accessible to people with high school educations or less. The new clean economy jobs would offer a solid job ladder for workers to steadily improve their wages as they grow their skills."
These numbers carry quite an impact if they are true. Of course, none of this can come to fruition if a comprehensive energy plan does not come to pass. This goes beyond legislation and requires a top-to-bottom approach from the energy industry, the building industry, and corporate America -- to attract financial investment, as well as citizens who are willing to take the risk and alter their lifestyles and learn new skills. Unless all are on board, these new job opportunities will never gain traction.
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