Tackling climate change will be a major net job creator for the U.S. economy, according to a new report from the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and Management Information Services Inc.
According to the report, titled ‘Estimating the Jobs Impact of Tackling Climate Change,’ 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.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment costs would be revenue neutral or better, as costs to implement the technologies are offset by savings from lower energy bills, making total net costs near zero. In addition, 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, the report adds. Approximately 57% of carbon emissions reductions would be from energy efficiency, and 43% would be from renewable energy.
The report analyzed the job potential of improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation and industry, and assessed six renewable energy technologies: concentrating solar power, photovoltaics, wind power, biomass, biofuels and geothermal power.
For more information, visit www.ases.org/climatejobs.
SOURCE: American Solar Energy Society
