MORE NEWS, 12-10: WILL PAY FOR JOBS, MAYBE FOR CLIMATE; GREEN JOBS BEAT OTHER JOBS; THE OPPORTUNITY OF EFFICIENCY; WIND POWER WANTS A POLITICAL PUSH

WILL PAY FOR JOBS, MAYBE FOR CLIMATE
Poll: We'll pay to avert climate change if it creates jobs
Steven Thomma, December 9, 2009 (McClatchy Newspapers)

"…A majority of Americans are willing to pay more for a [climate change] solution only if it would create "green" jobs in the United States, according to a McClatchy-Ipsos poll…Take away the benefit of new jobs, and the willingness to pay a little more on their monthly electric or other bills drops.

"Just half the country is willing to pay higher prices to cut the emissions of greenhouse gases if it doesn't also create jobs, and that slender support turns into outright opposition if the price rises from $10 a month to $25 a month…"

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"A solid majority of Americans, 70 percent, thinks that global warming is real, though a sizable minority, 28 percent, says it isn't…61 percent think that it's happening because of the burning of fossil fuels, while 34 percent say it's mostly a natural phenomenon.

"Americans are closely divided on the proposed solution pending in Congress, a "cap and trade" system aimed at cutting U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases from smokestacks and tailpipes… 52 percent of Americans support the legislation, which has passed the House of Representatives but is stalled in the Senate. Forty-one percent oppose the measure."

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"A solid majority, 69 percent, said they'd support it even if it cost them $10 a month if it created a "significant" number of American jobs. Twenty-nine percent said they'd still oppose the legislation…That majority support dropped to 60 percent if the costs rose to $25 a month, and opposition rose to 36 percent.

"How much the legislation would cost is a subject of debate among partisans. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said it would cost the average U.S. household $90 a year in lost purchasing power in 2012, rising to $925 a year by 2050…Whether it would create or kill jobs also is heavily debated. The CBO said it would [likely have only a small impact over time]…"


GREEN JOBS BEAT OTHER JOBS
CA Green Job & Business Growth Significantly Outpace Rest of CA Economy
December 9, 2009 (Next 10)

"…California green businesses have increased 45 percent in number and 36 percent in employment from 1995 to 2008 while total jobs in California expanded only 13 percent. As the economy slowed between 2007 and 2008, total employment fell 1 percent, but green jobs continued to grow five percent…

"Many Shades of Green: Diversity and Distribution of California’s Green Jobs, released by the nonpartisan Next 10 and Collaborative Economics, provides the most comprehensive green jobs accounting to date, systematically tracking the most recent available data on green companies, job type, location and growth across every sector and region of California…"

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"While the absolute numbers of green jobs are not large, they are comparable to the biotech and software sectors, according to the report…

"Highlights…[1] Between 1995-2008, green businesses increased 45 percent, green jobs grew 36 percent while total jobs in the state grew only 13 percent…[2] Even in rural areas with a smaller economic base, green jobs are growing faster than the overall economy…[3] Between 2007-2008, green jobs grew 5 percent while total jobs dropped one percent…[4] Manufacturing represents 21 percent of all green jobs, and grew 19 percent, while manufacturing represents only 11 percent of all jobs in California…"

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"…[5] Half of all manufacturing jobs are split between Energy Efficiency and Energy Generation…[6] Services accounted for 45 percent of all California green jobs, the largest portion in Environmental Consulting…[7] With nearly 43,000 jobs in 2008, Air & Environment is the largest of California’s green segments…[S]ince 2005 the number of green jobs in this segment has increased 24 percent…[8] From 1995-2008, Energy Generation employment expanded 61 percent by nearly 10,000 jobs. Solar makes up the largest portion, and strongest growth (63 percent)…

"…[9] Employment in Energy Efficiency increased 63 percent from 1995-2008…[10] Employment in Green Transportation has increased 152 percent since 1995. Green Transportation Jobs are primarily in Motor Vehicles & Equipment and Alternative Fuels, with the latter growing faster at 201 percent, and representing 48 percent of all jobs in this segment…[11] Green Logistics is an emerging field, only in the Bay Area at present, with employment growing by 1144 percent since 1995…"


THE OPPORTUNITY OF EFFICIENCY
Study Cites Substantial Efficiency Savings
Kate Galbraith, December 9, 2009 (NY Times)

"[Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States (2009)] from the National Research Council has found that energy efficiency measures in the United States could cut energy use by 30 percent below 2030 projections.

"The report, which received funding from the Department of Energy as well as several private companies and foundations, argued that energy efficiency represents an enormous money-saving opportunity for the country. Measures to achieve it include fuel-economy standards, stricter building codes and efficiency requirements for home appliances…"

Shifting to industrial combined heat and power is an essential efficiency change. (click to enlarge)

"Buildings account for 41 percent of the energy used in the United States, according to the report, and they could cut their electricity use cost-effectively by 1.2 percent per year…Other studies, such as one in July by the consulting firm McKinsey, have also found enormous savings potential in buildings.

"The findings in the transportation sector — not covered by the McKinsey study — may be of particular interest. Some 28 percent of the country’s energy is used in transportation (nearly all of it is oil)."

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"In the near term — at least until 2020 — any efficiency gains will probably come from improvements to the internal combustion engine, the report states. Plug-in vehicles may be a “promising mid- to long-term option,” but they will be difficult to roll out quickly on a mass scale. As for the long term, the report says that it could take perhaps until 2050 for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to gain significant share.

"The report also acknowledged the many potential barriers to energy efficiency initiatives…[such as Americans’ lifestyle preferences,] high initial costs, volatile energy prices, and a lack of information or incentives…"


WIND BRIGHTENS ECONOMY, NEEDS A BOOST
Wind energy industry looks to Copenhagen for a mandate; In an interview, Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, says the industry needs a renewable energy mandate from the climate conference in Copenhagen and from Congress.
Mark Clayton, December 9, 2009 (Christian Science Monitor)

[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association AWEA):] “Last year during an almost depression we added 55 new manufacturing facilities and 35,000 new jobs in the US, which I think makes it one of the bright spots in the economy… We’re shovel ready, ready to rock and roll, and we can get to 20 percent [of US energy generation] easy, clearly by 2030…”

"Right now the industry employs more than 85,000 people with many new wind-power factories having taken over previously empty appliance, auto, and steel plants…Last year the US took over first place globally in terms of the amount of installed wind power…2008 turned out well indeed for US wind…The economic hammer really didn’t hit the wind industry until the fall – about a year ago. Wind power had its financing yanked out from under it just as the rest of the economy did."

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"Even so, many projects that already had their funding soldiered ahead, and by year’s end, a record 8,500 megawatts worth of turbines had been installed…[Projects with financing] were still in the pipeline in [the first half of] 2009…[T]he picture is less clear [now] even though there are bright spots…Growth was strong through the end of the third quarter of 2009 with 5,800 megawatts of capacity built…[but] there is just 5,000 megawatts of wind power in the near-term development pipeline compared with 8,000 megawatts last year…That slowing is hurting US wind manufacturing…

"The wind power industry got a pick-me-up this summer when stimulus funding began to hit. A measure that allowed an alternate means of financing kicked in – enabling wind-power developers to turn investment tax credits into dollars by getting direct refunds from the federal government…So far at least $1 billion in such financing has supported the industry this year…"

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"But as important is the stimulus aid was, what happens next in Copenhagen and in Congress – and how soon – is critical…[The industry wants] a strong statement or agreement coming out of both the climate summit and Capitol Hill committing the US and the rest of the world to shift away from fossil fuels and put in place clear requirements – a mandate – to build renewable energy."

[Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association AWEA):] “Until the end of 2008, [wind power manufacturers] were making machinery as fast as they could…Now we’re still seeing significant problems in this manufacturing sector. The recovery package threw us a lifeline, but they’re still hurting… It makes a huge difference if the world as a community decides to recognize these [carbon emissions] costs … and say we’re going to do something about it collectively – and move to cleaner sources of generation… But what we really need is a strong national commitment from Congress – a [Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that sets a percentage requirement for how much renewable energy utilities must use…”