Clean Energy Sector: Make Your Voices Heard

Last week I heard a great story on NPR's Morning Edition about how a tiny investment in an energy efficient window coating went on to save Americans billions of dollars on utility bills and jump start a green building boom.

It's a story arc that my colleagues are familiar with; we have seen this kind of return on clean investment happen over and over again. But it's not enough for NRDC's energy experts to know it. The American people and our elected officials have to hear it too.

That's why I am calling on the clean tech sector to speak out. We need their voices now more than ever. From George Soros to Deutsche Bank to Ivory Tower economists, analysts are saying that major investment in clean energy can help lift America out of its desperate financial straits.

Green collar workers, clean tech venture capitalists, and renewable energy manufacturers are already laying the groundwork. But now they need to go one step further: they need to become a political force:

• They need to go to Washington and declare that putting America's clean energy infrastructure in place is the biggest economic stimulus plan available right now.

• They need to tell Congress what a UMass study just confirmed: investing in clean energy solutions could create 2 million U.S. jobs in the next two years -- nearly four times as many jobs as investing in more oil production.

• They need to tell the new White House what George Soros said recently: investing in clean tech and energy efficiency could be the new "motor of the world economy."

The Right Policies Can Unleash the Opportunities

For the past two years, people in the investment world have been praising the massive opportunities in the clean tech sector. The missing link here is not the technology but the policy to move cleaner, more efficient solutions off the shelves, out of the labs, and into the marketplace.

In August, PG&E announced that it would buy 800 megawatts of power from two photovoltaic solar providers. This is a great breakthrough: photovoltaic power will be developed on a large scale for a major utility, and drive down costs in the process.

But this groundbreaking deal almost fell through because Congress literally waited until the last minute -- the final Bailout Bill -- to extend the renewable energy tax incentive.

That's why good policies are critical. We can write the rules of the game so business can scale up clean solutions quickly and profitably. For instance, a national global warming law would give a market advantage to green energy over dirty fossil fuels. But rules like that don't write themselves.

Speak Up, Green Collar Workers and Clean Tech Investors!

I urge all of those who believe that clean energy technologies can address our energy and economic crises to make their voices heard. Because right now, the voices of business-as-usual and "drill, baby, drill" are overpowering the calls for clean energy.

The pioneers of the clean energy future have a lot of good news to share. I just hope they start doing it quickly and loudly.

Comments

[jean1]

THANKS for this article. agree: WHY IN THIS WORLD in the U. S. don't we have our people working on solar and wind? WHY IN THIS WORLD in the U. S. don't we have demonstration projects so everyone can see how feasible solar/wind/etc are? WHY IN THIS WORLD don't we use what's free vs talking about 'clean coal' that's cost prohibitive and even if technologoy EVER becomes reality-WHAT a price to pay + contaminating the air-still?

ENOUGH! Let's make this happen. NOW... with thanks.

[jean1]

& i'm on a family farm in same family over 200 yrs. with much of it sloping to SOUTH, most of roofs facing SOUTH. to me, it's an ideal place for an energy demonstration farm. i've made calls to businesses and government offices and NO one had had calls asking for solar/wind anything. should type it is rural western KY. plus i'm part of TVA so could sell what's not used to them for someone else. current incentives are better than nothing. eastern KY has more incentives than western. some states have many more than others. other countries have MANY more incentives than U. S. does. gov program: forget it. one i found out about had 800+ applicants for maybe 150 people awarded dollars. other one requires $200,000. to be involved. i've typed numerous times to all 3 washington elected people that i volunteer the space here to get a demonstration project going. & i'm
looking forward to hearing from McConnell, Bunning, Whitfield. haven't heard from any of them. except duplicate letters sometimes on same day saying same old, same old thing. not said of course is HOW much money they get from oil companies either personal or lobbying.

ENOUGH! Let's make it happen... with thanks.

[ErrolSmythe]

Green energy may help clean up the air. The technology is out there. Plants use green energy. We have been trained to think inside a box .This box of thinking has limited man's potential to develope clean energy.

[proreality]

Reported today, "wind turbine blade breaks and falls in to illinois corn field. 400 other turbines to be inspected by Indian company who built them"

Why do we have a company from India building maintaining, installing wind turbines? Is America not capable? This is disgusting, we can't even allow American businesses to build American infrastructure and create American jobs providing for America's energy needs? Something is wrong with this picture.

[SolarRockstar]

I really appreciate your article! I'm currently enrolled at one of the top schools in the state of California for Solar Photovoltaic Installation/Design (Los Angeles). The Solar Photovolatic industry in California is accelerating at warp speed for commercial/residential install. In fact there aren't enough qualified people in the state to keep up with the amount of work that's ramping up....the need for system designers, Installers, Inspectors, the list goes on is much needed. Starting in January 2009, every contractor/builder in the state of California will have to offer Solar as an option. There's a tidal wave of entrepreneur's that are going to continue to have major opportunities thus creating many green collar jobs. I'm doing my best to be one of those voices you speak of. Germany leads the world in usage converting Solar Photovoltaic energy into their main energy supply, and they get 2 1/2 hours of peak sun per day. In Los Angeles we get a 5 1/2 hours of peak sun a day!!!....SO yeah it's time that we march together and stand up to congress and the incoming office so that we can really light up this world of opportunity!!!! I will keep you updated on my progress, GO SOLAR~