Demand a New Green Economy

At this vital juncture in our country's history, it's clear that we must take climate change seriously. America is spending more than $200,000 per minute on foreign oil -- $13 million per hour. More than $25 billion a year goes for Persian Gulf imports alone. Our dependence upon oil, especially foreign oil, affects not only our economy but our national security.

We must take real steps to end our reliance on foreign oil. At last night's presidential debate, I was pleased to hear Senator Obama say that energy independence will be the number one priority of his administration.

We must follow words with action.

In San Francisco, we are establishing this new green economy while reducing our dependence on foreign oil, slashing the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the environment, and creating new green collar jobs.

Last week, I announced that applications for new solar installations in San Francisco have nearly quadrupled since the city's groundbreaking solar rebate program, GoSolarSF launched in July. Ten workers have been hired to date and we expect the number to triple in the next month. With dedicated support from the next presidential administration this new green economy will take off.

Solar installation may be the most obvious component of green technology, but it is not the only sector. This new green economy also includes recycling, bicycle repair and landscaping.

San Francisco is creating and promoting green jobs, so we can ensure that the neighborhoods that were locked out of the pollution-based economy are locked in to the new green economy.

A clean energy economy will create millions of new green jobs that America desperately needs. Jobs that can't be outsourced. Jobs that use the skills of today's workers. Green jobs aren't just the jobs of the future -- they are the jobs of today.

Americans are ready for bold action. We can truly revitalize our economy with good green jobs, clean, renewable energy and a healthy climate. We must demand this new green economy. No more billion dollar tax breaks for the oil industry. No more drill baby drill. No more Persian Gulf oil imports. Energy independence is attainable in 10 years, but we must demand it from our leaders. We need to invest in America's future -- a green future. We need to invest in solar, wind, geothermal, wave and other green technologies. Our national security depends on it.

Comments

[charon]

Excellent report, I wished I had seen it when it was first posted. Guess I was too busy reading about the economy and election. However, in a way, it makes me think that this economic crisis could be a great opportunity to green up America. Golden Gate Park was built largely by the "dollar-a-day men" during the depression of 1893; the Golden Gate and Bay bridges were built during the Great Depression.

Depressions offer opportunities to develop infrastructure with the battalions of unemployed, and if we go into one now, the battalions of unemployed that will result from it could be, at least partially, employed in developing green energy, whether installing solar hot water systems on the roofs of homes, building solar voltaic structures to shade parking lots and produce electricity, building mass transit systems, and so on.

It's great to hear that San Francisco isn't waiting for a depression to begin developing green power, but it can serve as a model so that a possible crisis can be turned into an opportunity. Now, if only they could find a way to generate electricity out of fog...

[clubalthea]

Dear Mayor Newson,
The Green Research Institute (GRI) 501c(3) is a non-profit company that aims to collaborate with other researchers, private and government to contribute to a sustainable green planet. We are looking for gov and private sponsors/donors and partners.

GRI"s Mission
1. Research a variety of green-related and sustainability ideas that can make a difference
2. Credibility and transparency in all our dealings: in internal and external
3. Leverage other"s resources such as human, equipment and research
4. Collaboration; sharing equipment, resources and working with others on common projects
5. Be a repository of information, ideas, tests data and reports related to sustainability.

We at GRI, will work hard to be worthy of your tax-deductable support and funding to continue on making sustainable research and collaborations with other organizations for the greening of our planet.

Sincerely,
Connie Dello Buono [e-mail] www.greenresearchinstitute.org

[KillTheMessenger]

Any plans for 2016, yet?

[mjt218]

Enjoyed the post.

I'm curious as to which neighborhoods in San Francisco have been locked out of the petroleum based economy? There are a number of refineries and chemical plants in the Bay area, and most of the city owes the jobs it does have to the massive ports in the area. I haven't seen too many carbon-neutral container ships.

[JuniorNorman]

Why doesnt Huffington have a few articles on Hemp! This man does a slew and nver mentions "LEGALIZE HEMP!" Its 8 times more bio-diesel than soybeans and canola! While at the same time you can feed the seeds to your chickens, get 6 times more fiber than cotton and have your bio-diesel refined at the county distillery......... three easy uses out of one crop all at the time look Ma no hands...

[rcksgl]

What seems most spectacular about Mayor Newsom is his determination to make a difference. Yes, he is clearly political, with obvious ambition that doesn't end at the Golden Gate, but again and again he will not just comment on hot-topic issues, but work to enact changes that in his eyes will be for the greater good.
Is he always right? Are you? Of course not. But with a heart and mind clearly in the right place, be it about rights for the homeless, minorities, homosexuals and the future of the earth, his efforts should be lauded and encouraged.

Can't wait to hear how he continues to improve the pollution quotient in dry cleaners.

[markie1111]

you can blither and blather all you want about green this and green that. the bottomline is whether you want to admit it or not, is the there are about 4 billion peeps too many on this planet.. abject poverty will continue, the haves will march over the havenots like peanut shells on the keller flor until there are haves are no more.

[KillTheMessenger]

"Betty, get Daddy the shotgun, he is going to save the world today!"

[FogBelter]

As a citizen of San Francisco, I would applaud any effort to expand the use of Solar power in the City, if only to show the rest of the country what is possible. I recall seeing a report about some San Franciscan's that had gone Solar, and that not only were they able to power all of their home needs, but they were also able to send excess energy back out to the grid. Their electricity meter actually ran backwards ... and at the end of the month they were getting a check back from PG&E. If we were to multiply that success by the number of house holds in the City, we could probably run all of the street lights and make a nice little profit for the citizens as well. More Solar, Mayor, let's show them how it's done.

And while we are on the subject of Green, when was the last time you checked out Ocean Beach? There seems to be quite a bit of bunker oil from the Pusan bridge collision spattered about ... just a note.

[socdem]

I almost squeeked with glee when I heard Sen. Obama say the word GEOTHERMAL last evening!!! Why in the world isn't more being done to promote this heating and cooling marvel?!?

In my state of MN, we used to have a real estate tax break that was given to anyone who had purchased an older property and invested a certain amount of money into rehabing. "This Old House" was the name of the program. That option is no longer available and that is, I believe, the main reason that older homes are not being purchased as often as they once were.

With GEOTHERMAL heating/cooling units, an energy tax break could be given for anyone re-fitting their existing home's system or anyone who was involved with new construction. It has just driven me wild to see new homes being built without taking advantage of this system!!! It is initially costly, but one can make up the cost quickly with the current price of fuel oil or propane...

No, I am not an expert on geothermal energy - I am a real estate agent. But if I could live my life over again, this is the field that I would go into. Geothermal energy, combined with solar and wind power, is the road we should be traveling in our quest for clean, renewable energy.

[sheila]

i think you are confusing geothermal heat exchange (the thing we can retrofit our houses with that will heat and cool to a certain extent) and geothermal electricity (which is what comes from steam being drawn from deep in the earth and powering turbines). The former is genius and every house should have it. the latter is often dangerous, poisonous and requires massive, harmful and wasteful new transmission infrastructure which will do more harm than the geothermal can offset with it's "clean' energy.

you are totally right, though. local, point of use power is the only way to go. remote, industrial power plants, even if they use sun or wind, are very harmful to the environment and are not necessary to reach our RPS or beyond. SF is amazing because they have made grants and loans available to property owners to install PV on their roofs. EVERY CITY SHOULD FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE!!!

please, pressure your state to offer FAIR FEED IN TARIFFS so you can get a CHECK from the utility company for power you generate and conserve (CA currently only allows you to net meter, so excess power is a GIFT to the utility). it's high time WE got to be part of the energy paradigm as more than victims of eminent domain and hijacked ratepayers!

[scordsdu]

The Green Economy is nonesense! This is another way to package efficiency. Green is what they call gullable people. Hire an Industrial Engineer. We've been sustaining for a Century of more.

[bluegrasstafarian]

with all due respect, what are you talking about?

[HBeachbum]

Wow! And with only a $300,000,000 deficit for your city. Bravo!

[CountryBeforeParty]

Dear Mr. Mayor,

It would have been nice for you to take a moment to meet with Alex Bennett last week, when he was in town to be inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame.

Nice post otherwise.