Economic Development With Clean Energy
Solving the Economic Crisis With New Renewable Energy Technology
Nov 19, 2008
The New York Times published an article by Al Gore, on November 9, 2008, titled "The Climate for Change". Al Gore is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2007. Also, he was vice president of the U.S. from 1993 to 2001. The article is an appeal to switch to renewable energy not only to save our planet from the effects of global warming and the transfer of wealth from the U.S. to foreign oil, but also for government to “....rapid investments in a jobs-intensive infrastructure...ought to be taken ...to solve the economic crisis and energy security crisis.” Al Gore supported U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s economic recovery plans which included creating jobs by switching to clean energy technologies.
Barack Obama Background
Obama’s background of helping the disadvantaged and middle class, and his support of renewable energy inspired Al Gore to state in his article, “...transformative choice by the American people...our 44th president lays the foundation...emergency rescue of human civilization from the imminent and rapidly growing threat posed by the climate crisis.” Gore’s Climate Project attributes the climate crisis to global warming caused by the use of fossil fuel energy. His solution is to switch to 100% clean renewable energy in the U.S. by 2018, which he says “...will create thousands of new jobs.”
Effects of Global Warming
A Reuters News Service press release, dated 11/17/2008, by Peter Henderson, titled "California Ordered To Prepare For Sea-Level Rise", was published by the Planet Ark site which receives environmental feeds from Reuters. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered preparations for sea level rise.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, an organization of electrical grid operators in the U.S., calls for a clean energy power grid in an article by Bernie Woodall, published on the Planet Ark site, 11/11/2008. The article is an environmental news feed from Reuters titled "Green Power Needs Reliable US Grid Planning - NERC". The NERC is concerned about greenhouse emissions and global warming.
Economic Crisis
Al Gore calls for a “green” power grid in his "The Climate for Change" article. He believes the changes he recommends will create more jobs helping ease the economic crisis. His article suggests a five-part plan.
- Barack Obama and Congress should offer large investments for solar thermal plants and wind farms.
- Government should help fund a renewable energy grid, at an estimated cost of $400 billion, which will also create more jobs.
- Government should help the auto industry, including start-ups, to focus on manufacture of plug-in hybrids.
- Retrofit buildings with better insulation, and energy efficient lighting and windows. Added to this proposal should be help for homeowners to avoid home mortgage foreclosure.
- U.S. should take the lead in “...putting a price on carbon...” and Gore suggested improvement of the Kyoto treaty. He also called for reduced deforestation.
Not everyone is pleased by Obama and Gore's renewable energy proposals. An article from Reuters News Service, published 11/17/2008, by Timothy Gardner, published on the Planet Ark site, titled "EPA Ruling Over Climate Jeopardizes US Coal Plants" tells about US environment regulators rejecting a coal-fired power plant in Utah because “...the issue of its greenhouse gas pollution...” The article states that coal plants generate about 50% of U.S. power and create 33% of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution.
The environmental suggestions of Barack Obama and Al Gore are similar. They both believe that government investment in renewable energy will not only free us from sending billions out of the country for foreign oil, but also will help reduce global warming and help solve the economic crisis by the creation of new clean energy jobs.
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