VIDEO: Creating Jobs in a New Energy Economy « It’s Getting Hot In Here

Cross-posted from WattHead – Energy News and Commentary

The simultaneous collapse of our economic and ecological systems has created a great opportunity to support industries that at once rebuild the market and the planet, according to an article by economist Robert Pollin, “Doing Recovery Right,” appearing in the latest issue of The Nation. The transition of the economy from a fossil-fuel to a renewable resource base will provide new jobs and revitalize the American working class, argues to Pollin, who is also the author of the in depth report “Green Recovery,” examining the job creation benefits of a $100 billion, two year investment to building a clean energy economy.

“The transition to a clean energy economy has the capacity to merge the aims of environmental protection and social justice to a degree that is unprecedented,” Pollin writes. “It is an opportunity that must not be lost.”

In the video below, Pollin and The Nation contributor Liza Featherstone discuss the potential for public investments to spark the transition to a new energy economy and create jobs in industries both new and familiar – from construction and manufacturing to new energy and high tech industries.

For more on the power of public investments to build a new, prosperous clean energy economy, see the “Green Recovery” report and Pollin’s article, “Doing Recovery Right” appearing in the current of The Nation.

About Jesse

Jesse Jenkins is an energy and climate policy analyst, advocate, and blogger. Jesse is currently the Director of Energy and Climate Policy at the Breakthrough Institute in Oakland, California, where he works to develop and advance new energy solutions to power America's future, secure our energy freedom, and halt global warming. He joined Breakthrough in June 2008 and previously directed the Breakthrough Generation fellowship program for young clean energy leaders. Jesse worked previously as a Research and Policy Associate at the Renewable Northwest Project in Portland, OR, helping to advance the development of the Pacific Northwest's abundant renewable energy potential. A prolific author and blogger on clean energy issues, Jesse is the founder and chief editor of WattHead - Energy News and Commentary, a member of the blogger board at the Energy Collective and policy editor at Its Getting Hot In Here. Jesse is a co-founder of the youth-led Cascade Climate Network, a board member of Focus the Nation and a graduate of the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon.

2 Responses to “VIDEO: Creating Jobs in a New Energy Economy”

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1 R Margolis Jan 30th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

One area of common interest is that the skilled labor needed for both renewables and the transition sources are similar. Increasing the skills of the workforce is a concept that should have traction across the different energy sectors.
2 Ken Smith Feb 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm

There have been several recent reports about wind turbine manufacturers, developers, and related companies shedding jobs as a result of the financial downturn. Specifically, because of the lack of project financing orders are being cancelled. But these 2008 numbers show that while the rest of the economy was shedding jobs rapidly during 2008, when the financing was available for projects the renewable energy sector was actually growing.

So we need more money from the stimulous package going to stimulate those sectors of the economy that were performing well, and reduce funding for sectors that got themselves in trouble. Enough of the multi-million dollar CEO bonuses and loans to banks who buy corporate jets. With the money we have to those shameless elites we could have been building solar and wind plants and putting lots of people to work.

Read the whole Post at: http://www.buildbabybuild.net/blog/renewable-energy-jobs-growing-rapidly/