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.