In the present article we critically examine four recent studies on the alleged benefits of government programs to foster green job creation: the Center for American Progress’ (CAP) Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy, the Political Economy Research Institute’s (PERI) Job Opportunities for the Green Economy: A State-by-State Picture of Occupations that Gain From Green Investments, the U.S. More likely, they would result in net job losses. These factors would likely increase consumer energy costs and the costs of a wide array of energy-intensive goods, slow GDP growth and ironically may yield no net job gains. Furthermore, there would likely be negative economic consequences from forcing higher-cost alternative energy sources upon the economy. Indeed, the distortionary impacts of government intrusion into energy markets could prematurely force business to abandon current production technologies for more expensive ones. Unfortunately, it is highly questionable whether a government campaign to spur “green jobs” would have net economic benefits.

The new Administration and the incoming 111th Congress are in apparent agreement with this overall strategy, differing perhaps only in the details.

According to this view, government at all levels can use fiscal and regulatory measures to spur massive new investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency, which will create millions of new “green jobs.” Proponents claim that such programs will not only rescue the economy from recession, but will also put the country on track to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future. In this environment, some have seized upon the “Green Economy” as a cure for both the nation’s current economic ills, and as a way to address the issues of global warming and energy security. Keynesian economics is once more fashionable in the corridors of power in Washington, with plans taking shape for a massive infrastructure program (much of it expected to be “green”) to get the economy moving again. What’s worse, the recovery seems elusive, and a prolonged recession cannot be ruled out. What started as a financial crisis on Wall Street quickly evolved into a much deeper economic crisis on Main Street, with unemployment now at a 16-year high. economy currently in recession, it has been for more than an entire year (since December 2007). Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, American Solar Energy Society Introduction and Executive Summaryĭata compiled and recently released by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) indicates that not only is the U.S. Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S.

Job Opportunities for the Green Economy, Political Economy Research Institute Green Recovery, Center for American Progress

Spec solar jobs