Economic Stimulus Package Misses Mark

Putting Greenbacks into Green

Michael Renner, Worldwatch Institute

Last week, the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Bush Administration announced a tentative agreement on a $150 billion stimulus package to jumpstart the U.S. economy. But they could have done far better—by designing a green stimulus package with the potential to boost the economy and create jobs while minimizing environmental harm.

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Green employment is on the rise, but far more needs to be done. This week, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report, co-authored by the Worldwatch Institute and Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute, showing that renewable energy, sustainable transportation systems, and green buildings hold considerable potential for job creation.

Among the findings:

• Renewable energy provides jobs and livelihoods for at least 2.3 million people worldwide. Wind power employs 300,000 people, solar power more than 100,000, and solar thermal more than 600,000.
• For every 30 million kilowatt-hours of energy saved, 40 to 100 jobs are created, according to energy efficiency studies conducted in North America and Europe. For every 1 million Euros invested in energy efficiency in the residential building sector, the British Association for the Conservation of Energy estimated in 2000 that 11 to 13 jobs are created.
• In Germany, 140,000 jobs were either saved or created in the building sector to retrofit approximately 200,000 homes. And there are currently 43,000 LEED Accredited Professionals in the United States trained in green building design and construction or operations and maintenance.

(The article is here.)