Hoosier Interviewed on Ed Schultz Radio Show on Obstacles to Creating Green Jobs in the U.S.

Noel Davis, the founder of Vela Gear Systems, will be interviewed on the Ed Schultz radio show (http://www.bigeddieradio.com/ ) today at 1:05pm Eastern USA time.


The subject mater of the interview is the following...



Obstacles to Creating Green Jobs in the U.S.

Efforts to build an Indiana plant that would manufacture high-value wind turbine components have been slowed by difficulties accessing Recovery Act funding intended to spur the development of green energy projects. Mr. Noel Davis is seeking a loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. Each day that his application sits unanswered and overdue, Chinese, European, and other foreign companies continue to capture more of our market for clean energy manufactured goods. Currently, 86% of wind turbine high value gearbox components are imported.

Vela Gear Systems (VGS) plans to construct and operate a manufacturing facility dedicated to the high volume production of critically needed gear components for utility grade wind turbine (greater than 1.0 megawatt) gearboxes. This will be the only American owned company starting up to manufacture large wind turbine gears. The project is supported by local and federal elected officials, including U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, and Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight.

The plant would be potentially be located in Central Indiana, an area that has been hemorrhaging jobs with massive layoffs at auto manufacturers and auto parts suppliers (see story by USA TODAY). The GM plant, formerly Delphi, once had 15,000 workers, but today employs just 800. Area Chrysler operations once had 14,000 workers, but today employ just 2,700. These losses have helped Kokomo earn the #3 spot on a list of America’s Fastest-Dying Towns.

Davis’s team holds more than 100 years of combined experience in working with wind turbine customers and steel suppliers. His state-of-the-art manufacturing facility would employ over 200 skilled machinists at wages approximating $24 per hour. Doing so would have tremendous benefits to U.S. suppliers, including the domestic steel industry, with Vela intending to procure a large amount of U.S.-made steel in its manufacturing process.

Meanwhile, China and other overseas investors are taking advantage of the increased demand for renewable energy manufactured goods. According to a study by Russ Choma, 84 percent of Recovery Act funds earmarked to support the wind industry have gone to foreign companies. Efforts to rejuvenate the U.S. manufacturing base are at risk of being unseated by subsidized imports from countries seeking to capitalize on new demand for clean energy products in the U.S., such as wind turbines and solar panels. Recent media attention has focused on a massive Texas wind development project that will source all of its wind turbines from China and seek U.S. taxpayer support to finance the project. According to the Wall Street Journal, “the project should create 2,800 jobs – of which 15% would be in the U.S. The rest would flow to China, where Shenyang employs 800 people.”

In the case of Noel Davis and Vela Gear Systems, the opportunity exists to create green manufacturing jobs in the U.S. that will depend on a domestic supply chain.

Noel Davis is a retired U.S. Navy Commander with significant private sector experience in engineering projects, including power transmission products and drive systems. His contact info: Vela Gear Systems, http://www.velagear.com/ P.O. Box 432 Indianapolis, IN 46038, noel.davis@velagear.com Mobile: +1 (317) 224-7831

This news update brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association (InREA). Visit www.indianarenew.org.

New ASES Report Estimating the Jobs Impact of Tackling Climate Change

The American Solar Energy Society is rolling out a new report 10/30/09. It shows that tackling climate change can be a major net job creator for the U.S. economy.

According to the report, aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency can net up to 4.5 million new U.S. jobs by 2030 and provide the greenhouse gas emission reductions necessary to tackle climate change.

With Congress debating energy policy in Washington D.C., this is the type of information that can really make a difference.

Renewable energy and energy efficient technologies could displace approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions annually by 2030 - the amount scientists believe is necessary to prevent the most dangerous consequences of climate change.

The report is called, Estimating the Jobs Impact of Tackling Climate Change, and was produced by ASES and top economists at Management Information Services, Inc. based in Washington, D.C.

The report can be found at: www.ases.org/climatejobs

Here's one of the best parts. According to the analysis, renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment costs would be revenue neutral or better!

That's because the costs to implement the technologies are offset by savings from lower energy bills, making total net costs near zero.

As Brad Collins, ASES' Executive Director described it, "The twin challenges of climate change and economic stagnation can be solved by the same action-broad, aggressive, sustained deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The solution for one is the solution for the other."

This jobs report offers the most detailed analysis yet on the potential role of the new energy economy in tackling climate change.

It builds on the powerful findings of ASES' groundbreaking 2007 report Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.: Potential Carbon Emissions Reductions From Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030 edited by Chuck Kutscher.

Check out the report: www.ases.org/climatejobs

This jobs report offers the most detailed analysis yet on the potential role of the new energy economy in tackling climate change.

Report findings show that:

•Aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency can net 4.5
million new jobs by 2030. These jobs are not limited to certain regions or sectors – they are widely dispersed throughout the U.S. in virtually all industries and occupations.
•Hot jobs spurred by this new economic growth span a diverse range of skills and experience and include: electricians, plumbers, carpenters, administrative assistants, machinists, cashiers,
management analysts, civil engineers, and sheet metal workers.
•Renewable energy and energy efficient technologies could displace approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions annually by 2030 – the amount scientists believe is necessary to prevent the most dangerous consequences of climate change.
•Approximately 57% of carbon emissions reductions would be from energy efficiency and 43% would be from renewable energy.
•Energy efficiency measures can allow U.S. carbon emissions to remain about level through 2030, while renewable technologies can provide large reductions in carbon emissions below current levels
•Industries showing the largest job gains include: construction, farming, professional services, public sector, retail, truck transportation, fabricated metals and electrical equipment.
•The construction industry directly benefits from almost all the growing renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors as well as from improvements in overall economic growth due to energy savings. Farming directly benefits from biomass and biofuel technology growth.
•Many of these jobs can not be easily outsourced due to the on-site nature required by these roles.
•The greatest numbers of renewable energy jobs are generated by solar photovoltaics, biofuels, biomass, and concentrating solar power sectors.

The report suggests that policy can play a significant role in both generating jobs and mitigating carbon emissions.

The Indiana Renewable Energy Association is the official state chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. For more information visit www.indianarenew.org.

Green energy creates jobs

The following letter to the editor from Eric Cotton appeared in the Muncie Star Press on June 16, 2009, in response to a letter to the editor from Shirley Reese which appeared on June 8, 2009.

Muncie Star Press

June 16, 2009

Green energy creates jobs

by ERIC COTTON, ECI Wind and Solar LLC, Fairmount

Recently, Shirley Reese asked in her letter, "Green has a cost," what the bottom line is for green jobs and renewable energy. As a partner with ECI Wind and Solar, let me provide some business insights.

The bottom line is energy that comes from the sun, wind, biomass, and geothermal heat is free forever -- after you invest in the capital needed to harness it. It's also inherently domestic, so jobs and revenue stay local.

As for oil and coal: No one is saying these absolutely cannot be used. In fact, our electricity demand grows by 1 percent per month in the U.S. Even with rapid and aggressive deployment of renewable energy sources, we will struggle to keep up with our increase in demand. Coal and other traditional energy resources will still be in our energy portfolio.

To make these sources viable, we need to close the carbon loophole that allows the fossil fuel industry to displace the economic impacts of their pollution onto the taxpayer -- and we do pay dearly, both in public health costs and diminished ecosystem services.

As for jobs, the bottom line is that renewable energy -- and energy efficiency -- creates at least twice as many jobs per megawatt and per dollar as fossil fuels. Much of renewable energy is manufactured and installed: There are just inherently more man-hours involved than in traditional energy sources. While Mike Pence is decrying the costs of renewable energy, renewable energy is creating jobs right here in Muncie via Brevini.

Eric Cotton is a partner in ECI Wind and Solar in Fairmount. He is a founding member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors. Cotton can be reached at 765-702-0231 or eric@eciwindandsolar.com.

June 8, 2009

Green has a cost

by SHIRLEY REESE, Selma

I read in the paper that State Sen. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, and the liberal activist group MoveOn.org are pals. They are putting forth the idea that we must have clean energy jobs. Please explain to me what are these clean energy jobs and how much is it going to cost Muncie and Indiana? How many jobs will be lost when green jobs are created?

Congresswoman Michele Bachman says green jobs mean jobs lost. Spain found that for every green job created, 2.2 jobs were lost.

What are the hidden costs? I would be interested in knowing because we have learned that there are always repercussions when organizations like MoveOn.org are involved. Their agenda is always couched in attractive language such as "creating incentives, and renewable energy standards for American businesses," (laws and mandates). What is the bottom line?

The Windy City of Chicago might look good with a windmill on every block, but Indiana? No one seems to want a field of ghostly, noisy windmills in their back yards.

The Star Press article said they want to hear from ordinary Hoosiers. I'm asking the senator and MoveOn.org why can't all forms of energy be used? What is wrong with drilling for oil and using the clean coal methods that we have?

I will contact my representative, but it won't be Evan Bayh. I'll be contacting Mike Pence. I am getting sick of the term "green." It used to be a favorite color, but not any more.