9,000 New, Good-Paying, Sustainable Jobs

Statement

9,000 new, good-paying, sustainable jobs

By Chellie

A new report released last week has put some hard numbers on something that I and many others have been talking about for some time: an investment in renewable energy development and energy efficiency would yield big dividends here in Maine.

According to the Political Economic Research Institute at UMass Amherst, a $400 million investment in Maine would create 9,000 new, good-paying, sustainable jobs -- that's the equivalent of adding 1½ new BIWs to our state. Just think of the economic benefit that would create for Maine at such a critical time. And while $400 million is a significant amount of money, it's what we spend every day on the war in Iraq.

Nationally this energy efficiency and clean energy stimulus would have roughly the same price tag as the stimulus checks sent out earlier this year -- but the benefits would be much more widespread. Nationwide, the report says two million jobs would be created. And since August marked the eighth month in a row of significant job losses, actually creating these high quality jobs would be a very welcome change.

Becoming more energy efficient and less dependent on oil has important long-term benefits -- but the economic boost is much more immediate. According to researchers, we would gain 9,000 jobs in just two years, lowering our unemployment rate from 5.7% to 4.4%.

Columnist Thomas Friedman has a new book out -- it's called Hot, Flat and Crowded. The title is his description of the state of the Earth and, although that may sound grim, Friedman actually has an incredibly hopeful and optimistic message -- and one that I agree with. He argues that high energy prices, energy security, and climate change are serious, significant challenges for us -- but the opportunities are incredible. If we play our cards right, the United States could become the world leader in the emerging clean energy industry. (I've listened to Friedman's appearance on NPR's Fresh Air twice -- I highly recommend it.)

Maine is particularly well suited to take advantage of this sustainable economic development. Many of the jobs that the UMass report talks about are the construction jobs that are needed for energy efficiency projects. We have the oldest houses and some of the coldest winters in the country -- so, more than most states, we would benefit from these types of improvements. And our renewable energy resources -- wind, wood and tidal -- combined with important R&D going on at the University of Maine put us in the right place to develop clean energy industries.

The next Congress and the next Administration are going to have to make some important choices. Will we continue to give massive subsidies to the big oil companies or will we start investing in a new energy future that brings our economy back to life and creates good jobs in Maine and across the country? Clearly, our money should go into new energy. If elected, I will work for an energy policy that emphasizes development of clean energy industries and support for conservation. It's best for Maine, and it's best for the country.

Source