The report, released this week by the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership between the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, finds that investing in clean, renewable energy would create four times as many jobs as spending the same amount of money within the oil industry.
In Minnesota, 37,429 jobs would be created, reducing the unemployment rate from 5.3 percent to 4 percent.
"This new report shows that investing in clean, renewable energy is a win-win solution. Shifting to clean, renewable energy will put people to work and revitalize our economy at a time when many Minnesotans are hurting," said Gerry Parzino, United Steelworkers staff representative.
"Green Recovery – A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy" analyzes the potential for a two-year, $100 billion green investment program –comparable to the size of the April 2008 federal stimulus package dedicated to consumer rebates – to be an engine for job creation in Minnesota and nationwide. This type of investment is a component of a broader clean, renewable energy strategy to create a low carbon economy and reduce global warming pollutions, including an economy-wide cap-and-trade program, the report states.
The program could be paid for with proceeds from auctions of carbon permits under a global warming cap-and-trade program, the report states. A global warming cap-and-trade program will drive private investments into clean, renewable energy and raise public revenue through carbon permit auctions. A cap will enable America to reduce global warming pollution to the levels science indicates are needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming.
The package is illustrative of the potential for clean, renewable energy – and specifically green infrastructure investments – to create new jobs and strengthen the economy. The specific package would invest in six green infrastructure priorities: retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency, expanding mass transit and freight rail, constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems, wind power, solar power, and next-generation biofuels.
The report also shows that the vast majority of the two million jobs gained from this initial $100 billion investment in clean, renewable energy would be in the same areas of employment that people already work in today, in every region and state of the country.
For example, constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and industrial truck drivers, among many others. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through retrofitting requires roofers, insulators and building inspectors. Expanding mass transit systems employs civil engineers, electricians, and dispatchers.
Minnesota is well positioned to take advantage of the green economy, and hundreds of Minnesotans are already working in renewable energy installation and production, but other states are winning the competition for new wind turbine manufacturing plants, the report notes. For example, Colorado recently announced a $700 million investment by Vestas, the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, near Denver that should create 2,400 jobs.
"While many Minnesota companies are taking advantage of the growing green economy, Governor Pawlenty has been outshined by other governors and the mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Minnesota urgently needs strong leadership to bring new investments in green jobs and manufacturing to our state, to grow our economy and help solve global warming," said Margaret Levin, Sierra Club North Star Chapter director. "This report shows Minnesota can do better."
This article is based on a news release from the Blue Green Alliance.
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The report, released this week by the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership between the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, finds that investing in clean, renewable energy would create four times as many jobs as spending the same amount of money within the oil industry.
In Minnesota, 37,429 jobs would be created, reducing the unemployment rate from 5.3 percent to 4 percent.
"This new report shows that investing in clean, renewable energy is a win-win solution. Shifting to clean, renewable energy will put people to work and revitalize our economy at a time when many Minnesotans are hurting," said Gerry Parzino, United Steelworkers staff representative.
"Green Recovery – A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy" analyzes the potential for a two-year, $100 billion green investment program –comparable to the size of the April 2008 federal stimulus package dedicated to consumer rebates – to be an engine for job creation in Minnesota and nationwide. This type of investment is a component of a broader clean, renewable energy strategy to create a low carbon economy and reduce global warming pollutions, including an economy-wide cap-and-trade program, the report states.
The program could be paid for with proceeds from auctions of carbon permits under a global warming cap-and-trade program, the report states. A global warming cap-and-trade program will drive private investments into clean, renewable energy and raise public revenue through carbon permit auctions. A cap will enable America to reduce global warming pollution to the levels science indicates are needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming.
The package is illustrative of the potential for clean, renewable energy – and specifically green infrastructure investments – to create new jobs and strengthen the economy. The specific package would invest in six green infrastructure priorities: retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency, expanding mass transit and freight rail, constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems, wind power, solar power, and next-generation biofuels.
The report also shows that the vast majority of the two million jobs gained from this initial $100 billion investment in clean, renewable energy would be in the same areas of employment that people already work in today, in every region and state of the country.
For example, constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and industrial truck drivers, among many others. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through retrofitting requires roofers, insulators and building inspectors. Expanding mass transit systems employs civil engineers, electricians, and dispatchers.
Minnesota is well positioned to take advantage of the green economy, and hundreds of Minnesotans are already working in renewable energy installation and production, but other states are winning the competition for new wind turbine manufacturing plants, the report notes. For example, Colorado recently announced a $700 million investment by Vestas, the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, near Denver that should create 2,400 jobs.
"While many Minnesota companies are taking advantage of the growing green economy, Governor Pawlenty has been outshined by other governors and the mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Minnesota urgently needs strong leadership to bring new investments in green jobs and manufacturing to our state, to grow our economy and help solve global warming," said Margaret Levin, Sierra Club North Star Chapter director. "This report shows Minnesota can do better."
This article is based on a news release from the Blue Green Alliance.