Going GreenGoing Green

U.S. Environmental PolicyU.S. Environmental Policy

“ “ So we have a choice to make. We can remain So we have a choice to make. We can remain one of the world’s leading exporters of foreign one of the world’s leading exporters of foreign oil, or we can make the investments that would oil, or we can make the investments that would allow us to become the world’s leading allow us to become the world’s leading exporter of renewable energy. We can let exporter of renewable energy. We can let climate change continue to go unchecked, or climate change continue to go unchecked, or we can help stop it. We can let the jobs of we can help stop it. We can let the jobs of tomorrow be created abroad, or we can create tomorrow be created abroad, or we can create those jobs right here in America and lay the those jobs right here in America and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity.” foundation for lasting prosperity.”

-President Obama, March 19 2009-President Obama, March 19 2009

The ProblemsThe Problems

Large companies are laying off large amounts Large companies are laying off large amounts of workers making the unemployment rate rise.of workers making the unemployment rate rise.

Not only are these large companies giving up Not only are these large companies giving up hundreds of jobs, but they are also using hundreds of jobs, but they are also using energy that could harm our environmentenergy that could harm our environment

The US relies too much on foreign countries to The US relies too much on foreign countries to supply our oilsupply our oil By doing so a lot of the available labor is over seas By doing so a lot of the available labor is over seas

instead of in the USinstead of in the US Climate change Climate change Country is not energy-efficient.Country is not energy-efficient.

What’s happening?What’s happening?

Electronics giant, Hewlett Packard is Electronics giant, Hewlett Packard is laying off 150 workers in Vancouverlaying off 150 workers in Vancouver

Weyerhaeuser is closing a sawmill and Weyerhaeuser is closing a sawmill and veneer near Aberdeen, eliminating 220 veneer near Aberdeen, eliminating 220 jobs.jobs.

American’s also losing jobs to American’s also losing jobs to outsourcing.outsourcing.

Pollution in U.S. hitting an all time high.Pollution in U.S. hitting an all time high.

What does Obama What does Obama propose we do?propose we do?

““New energy technologies that will lead to even more New energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and cleaner and safer planet…” jobs, more savings, and cleaner and safer planet…” President ObamaPresident Obama

Double production of alternative energy in the next Double production of alternative energy in the next three years.three years.

Improve energy efficiency of 2 million American homes.Improve energy efficiency of 2 million American homes. Put Americans to work in jobs that pay well and can’t Put Americans to work in jobs that pay well and can’t

be outsourced, doing things like building solar panels, be outsourced, doing things like building solar panels, and wind turbines, constructing fuel efficient cars and and wind turbines, constructing fuel efficient cars and buildingsbuildings

Reduce Greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.Reduce Greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Eliminate current imports from middle east and Eliminate current imports from middle east and

Venezuela within 10 yearsVenezuela within 10 years

““Clean Energy, Green Jobs”Clean Energy, Green Jobs”January 2009January 2009

Requirements:Requirements: New buildings to have zero green house gas by 2030New buildings to have zero green house gas by 2030 Require the state motor pool to phase in vehicles that Require the state motor pool to phase in vehicles that

have a fuel efficiency rating of at least 36 miles per gallonhave a fuel efficiency rating of at least 36 miles per gallon Weatherize the homes of low-income residents through Weatherize the homes of low-income residents through

an existing programan existing program Include multiple sales tax breaks for purchases of hybrid Include multiple sales tax breaks for purchases of hybrid

or electric vehicles or electric vehicles Encourage businesses to become environmentally Encourage businesses to become environmentally

friendly.friendly.

Why it won’t Work:Why it won’t Work:Public OpinionPublic Opinion

The renewable energy industry does not have the capabilities to power large areas of a The renewable energy industry does not have the capabilities to power large areas of a fossil fuel driven economyfossil fuel driven economy

Obama's “green job plan” requires the construction of 10’s of thousands of windmills, Obama's “green job plan” requires the construction of 10’s of thousands of windmills, thus for saving the environment from harmful pollution, and giving truck loads of thus for saving the environment from harmful pollution, and giving truck loads of people jobs in helping to build these windmills. people jobs in helping to build these windmills. This plan is compared to a shoe keeper’s store window being smashed in by This plan is compared to a shoe keeper’s store window being smashed in by

children. The broken window can be argued in both a positive and negative casechildren. The broken window can be argued in both a positive and negative case Sure the shopkeeper could be sympathized with, but his broken window Sure the shopkeeper could be sympathized with, but his broken window

could also help the economy. The broken window would give the glass maker could also help the economy. The broken window would give the glass maker business which could give him enough money to buy new groceries or new business which could give him enough money to buy new groceries or new clothes therefore giving those store businessclothes therefore giving those store business

In this case the broken windows would be the lost jobs in the coal, gas, In this case the broken windows would be the lost jobs in the coal, gas, nuclear and automobile industries. The Obama plan would then create new nuclear and automobile industries. The Obama plan would then create new jobs in the renewable energy sector, and the broken window would be taken jobs in the renewable energy sector, and the broken window would be taken care of from the tax payers dollar. care of from the tax payers dollar.

Therefore Obama’s green job is a win/lose situation. It would create new jobs, but at Therefore Obama’s green job is a win/lose situation. It would create new jobs, but at the same time get rid of othersthe same time get rid of others

Other than loss of other jobs in place of new ones, consumers would have less saving Other than loss of other jobs in place of new ones, consumers would have less saving and disposable income because of the higher costs required to purchase biofuels.and disposable income because of the higher costs required to purchase biofuels.

This “green jobs” plan has been thought of before in the Carter administration and This “green jobs” plan has been thought of before in the Carter administration and ended up in ultimate failure.ended up in ultimate failure.

Politics in FavorPolitics in Favor

Special interest groups like the Natural Resources Defense Special interest groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) applaud Obama’s efforts and think he has made Council (NRDC) applaud Obama’s efforts and think he has made the grade so far in Environmental policy.the grade so far in Environmental policy. The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild

places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth. places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth. They said that They said that Obama has restored U.S. leadership in the arena of climate change.Obama has restored U.S. leadership in the arena of climate change.

““The Apollo Alliance applauds the president’s continued focus on The Apollo Alliance applauds the president’s continued focus on creating jobs through investments in clean and efficient energy creating jobs through investments in clean and efficient energy systems…”systems…” The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of labor, business, environmental, and The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of labor, business, environmental, and

community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs.jobs.

This bill was passed in the house and now needs to be passed in This bill was passed in the house and now needs to be passed in the senate.the senate.

Other Interest Groups in Other Interest Groups in FavorFavor

One Sky, Environment America, League of Conservation Voters, One Sky, Environment America, League of Conservation Voters, VoteVets.org, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for climate VoteVets.org, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance for climate protection, American Rivers, Center for American Progress Action Fund, protection, American Rivers, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Clean Water Action, Climate solutions, Environmental Defense Fund, Oxfam Clean Water Action, Climate solutions, Environmental Defense Fund, Oxfam America, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Audubon America, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Audubon Society, Pew Environment Group, Pacific Gas and Electric, Applied Materials, Society, Pew Environment Group, Pacific Gas and Electric, Applied Materials, Aspen Snowmass, Austin energy, Avista Corporation, Clif Bar and Company, Aspen Snowmass, Austin energy, Avista Corporation, Clif Bar and Company, Duke Energy Corporation, eBay Inc., Exelon, fpl group, Kleiner Perkins et al, Duke Energy Corporation, eBay Inc., Exelon, fpl group, Kleiner Perkins et al, Levi Strauss & Co., National Grid, Hewlett Packard, Nike, NRG Energy, Public Levi Strauss & Co., National Grid, Hewlett Packard, Nike, NRG Energy, Public Service Enterprise Group, Seventh Generation, Starbucks corporation, Service Enterprise Group, Seventh Generation, Starbucks corporation, Symantec Corporation, Murray energy corporation, Alcoa, AES Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Murray energy corporation, Alcoa, AES Corporation, Alstom, Boston Scientific Corporation, bp america, Caterpilar Inc., Chrysler Alstom, Boston Scientific Corporation, bp america, Caterpilar Inc., Chrysler LLC, Conocophillips, Deere & Company, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, LLC, Conocophillips, Deere & Company, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Nature Conservancy, PepsiCo, PNM Resources, Rio Tinto, Shell, Siemens Nature Conservancy, PepsiCo, PNM Resources, Rio Tinto, Shell, Siemens Corporation, World Resources Institute, United Steelworkers, Corporation, World Resources Institute, United Steelworkers, Communications Workers of America, Service Employees International Communications Workers of America, Service Employees International Union, Laborers' International Union of North America, Utility Workers Union Union, Laborers' International Union of North America, Utility Workers Union of America, The American Civil Rights Unionof America, The American Civil Rights Union

Politics AgainstPolitics Against

Many economists do not think plan is practical because while it Many economists do not think plan is practical because while it creates more jobs, it also may eliminate jobs in the fossil fuel creates more jobs, it also may eliminate jobs in the fossil fuel industry.industry.

The Senate is not all in favor yet.The Senate is not all in favor yet. The American Petroleum Institute is an interest group in The American Petroleum Institute is an interest group in

opposition to this bill, along with the National Mining Association opposition to this bill, along with the National Mining Association and the Alliance for Workers freedom.and the Alliance for Workers freedom.

More than 80 billion dollars in clean energy investmentsMore than 80 billion dollars in clean energy investments

Other Interest Groups Other Interest Groups AgainstAgainst

American Farm Bureau Federation, Greenpeace, Rainforest American Farm Bureau Federation, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, Public Citizen, International rivers, Friends of Action Network, Public Citizen, International rivers, Friends of the Earth, National Mining Association, American Petroleum the Earth, National Mining Association, American Petroleum Institute, Alliance for Worker Freedom, American Institute, Alliance for Worker Freedom, American Conservative Union, American Shareholders Association, Conservative Union, American Shareholders Association, Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, Ethan Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, Ethan Allen Institute, College Republican National Committee, Allen Institute, College Republican National Committee, National Pork Producers CouncilNational Pork Producers Council

Other ProposalsOther Proposals

Waxman-Markey energy bill (American Clean energy and Security Act)Waxman-Markey energy bill (American Clean energy and Security Act) Cap and trade global warming reduction planCap and trade global warming reduction plan Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17% by 2020Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17% by 2020 Renewable requirements for utilitiesRenewable requirements for utilities Incentives for new carbon capture and sequestration technologiesIncentives for new carbon capture and sequestration technologies Awaiting action by full Senate.Awaiting action by full Senate.

Clean Energy Jobs and American Power BillClean Energy Jobs and American Power Bill Sponsored by Senator John KerrySponsored by Senator John Kerry Short term and long term emissions limitsShort term and long term emissions limits Consumer protection measuresConsumer protection measures Development of clean energy technologies like natural gasDevelopment of clean energy technologies like natural gas Assigned to Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public WorksAssigned to Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works

Neither bill is popular.Neither bill is popular.

Could This Really Could This Really Happen?Happen?

Policy Window ForecastPolicy Window Forecast

It has already been passed in the house, and it waiting for It has already been passed in the house, and it waiting for passage by the senate, however it seems that the senate is pretty passage by the senate, however it seems that the senate is pretty divided on this issue as no decision has yet been made.divided on this issue as no decision has yet been made.

It seems to us the costs slightly outweigh the benefits. This would It seems to us the costs slightly outweigh the benefits. This would cost over 80 billion dollars and would take a very long time to fully cost over 80 billion dollars and would take a very long time to fully implement.implement.

Even if it does create many green jobs, it may take a while to train Even if it does create many green jobs, it may take a while to train all of those workers to do those jobs, and we don’t even know if it all of those workers to do those jobs, and we don’t even know if it will work. will work.

It will be difficult to get all American to switch to these new, clean It will be difficult to get all American to switch to these new, clean forms of energy, especially in the automobile industryforms of energy, especially in the automobile industry

We feel it will become a real policy eventually but with some We feel it will become a real policy eventually but with some tweaking and not right now.tweaking and not right now.

We will see…We will see…

SourcesSources

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008677353_apwaxgrgreenjobs1http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008677353_apwaxgrgreenjobs1stldwritethru.html?syndication=risesstldwritethru.html?syndication=rises

www.whitehouse.govwww.whitehouse.gov http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/12/30/obama-gets-high-marks-for-greenhttp://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/12/30/obama-gets-high-marks-for-green

-record-environmental-group/-record-environmental-group/ www.allbusiness.comwww.allbusiness.com http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454