Could The U.S. Lose Out in World Competition for Clean Energy Economy?

With Congress considering legislation to have 20% of our energy come from alternative sources by 2020 and to lower green house gases by 83% (from 2005 levels) by 2050, the prospects for our capturing a world share of the clean energy market are improving. But the competition is stiff and many feel the U.S. is lagging behind in readying for the coming green economy. (Photo: China Daily)

U.S. Representive Ed Markey for theThe Boston Globe:

"Germany has emerged as the global photovoltaic market, even though Massachusetts has 30 percent better solar resources. Korea and Japan are leapfrogging America in battery and electric vehicle technology, even though we pioneered invention of these technologies. Only one-fourth of the world's top renewable-energy companies are American-owned, because we have failed to put in place a set of policies to promote alternative energy sources. China is spending $12.6 million per hour on clean-energy development and is preparing to invest $440 billion to $660 billion this year in clean energy development." See full editorial

California Study Forcasts 1.5% Annual Energy Efficiency Will Spawn 500,000 New Jobs

An economic forcast model developed at U.C. Berkeley finds that clean energy can become aboomindustry in the Golden State. (Photo: American Progress.org)

Associated Press Reports:

"David Roland-Holst, a UC Berkeley economics professor and the study's author, predicted aggressive state legislation meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions would create an enormous new clean energy market and spur innovation to better harness renewable resources.

Roland-Holst said his study is the first to use a wide-ranging economic forecasting tool developed at UC Berkeley to study the potential effects of clean energy on the entire California economy.

If the state were to continue with its current energy demand and reliance on fossil fuels, the study predicted, California would have to import more fuel, exposing the economy to less stable prices. On the other hand, using clean sources for half the state's electric power while increasing efficiency by 1.5 percent each year would create 500,000 new jobs with a $100 billion payroll, the study found." See full article.