Home  Editorials The New Energy Economy
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Written by STACY RITTER
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Sunday, 02 November 2008 |
Our economy is in deep trouble. America lost 159,000 jobs in September--the worst month in five years. The unemployment rate is over 6% and rising. Gas prices are sky-high. Home prices are falling, banks are failing and food prices are climbing.
Clearly we need a comprehensive plan to revitalize the American economy, expand jobs for American workers, reduce energy prices for all Americans, and make America more energy independent.
Fundamentally changing the way we produce and consume energy will create vast economic opportunities and millions of new jobs. A recent study by the University of Massachusetts, in collaboration with the Center for American Progress, showed that a near-term investment of $100 billion in the clean energy sector would create 2 million jobs nationwide in two years and set America solidly on the path toward greater energy independence. Here, in Florida, 123,000 jobs would be created in the manufacturing, construction and transportation sectors.
The differences between the presidential candidates on these issues are greater than one might guess from their television ads. Although Senator McCain is sometimes pictured before a wind turbine and discusses the need for greater energy independence, his record as an advocate for clean, renewable energy is weak.
Over the past year, the U.S. Senate voted nine times on proposals to encourage the rapid expansion of the clean energy sector. Senator McCain skipped all nine votes; in two cases, his failure to show up led directly to the bill’s defeat by a one-vote margin. It wasn’t until the clean energy provisions were included in the final bailout bill that Senator McCain joined his colleagues in supporting the extension of critically important tax credits for the renewable energy industry. In many ways, he didn’t have a choice.
The New Energy Economy has experienced remarkable growth in the United States over the past five years. More than 30 states have led the way by passing laws to encourage in-state production of energy from renewable sources. Rising to this challenge, the private sector has invested billions of dollars in new energy technologies: wind power, photovoltaics, solar thermal, geothermal, advanced fuels, advanced battery technology and tidal power, among many others.
Senator Barack Obama recognizes the economic promise of clean energy. When it comes to renewable energy, energy efficiency and the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles made here in America, Obama’s record matches his rhetoric. And looking forward, his New Energy for America Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform America into a global leader on clean energy and create 5 million new full-time, good-paying jobs in the next 10 years alone.
In Florida, we already have seen the growth of many of these new energy jobs such as those that support the world’s largest photovoltaic facility currently being built by Florida Power & Light in DeSoto County. Solar companies across the state, like Sunovia, Advanced Green Technologies and SBD International, have already created hundreds of jobs in Florida. Our state’s vast solar and biomass resources will allow us to rapidly expand Florida’s clean energy economy.
Please don’t be fooled by Senator McCain’s wind turbine visuals. After many years in the U.S. Senate, he has had ample opportunity to show his support for clean, renewable energy. Unfortunately he has failed to do so, time and time again. America doesn’t need more sound bites. We need someone in the White House who understands America’s energy challenges and will meet them head-on. We need Senator Obama’s clean energy investment strategy that will restore U.S. leadership in technological innovation and create millions of jobs here in America.
Stacy Ritter is Vice Mayor of Broward County, Co-Chair of Florida for Change and Chair of the Broward County Obama Campaign.
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