Joe21
11-12-2009, 12:31 PM
I've read and heard a lot about "clean energy" and the millions of jobs that will be created. We have many energy sources --- hydro, nuclear, geo-thermal, wind, solar, tidal, oil, gas. coal, bio-fuel and probably several others. Duke Energy is my electrical power provider. Never in my life have I seen a litle flag come out of an outlet telling me this electricity was generated by a specific energy source. Furthermore, i don't expect to see a little flag come out sometime in the future telling me this electricity generated by clean energy. In essence, what I am saying is the ultimate customer is not going to hire more people just because they now have a clean energy source.
Now, I can readily understand that converting to clean energy sources will require the manufacture of equipment for building the new generating systems, resulting in jobs in both manufacturing and construction. But, after the generaing stations are on line most of these jobs will be eliminated. The conversion to clean energy will result in some job losses, such as coal miners and other suppliers of energy sources. I can foresee a lateral transfer of employees from a closed down dirty energy generating plant to the new clean energy plant but I just can't see where these extra millions of jobs will be created.
Many of the existing power generating companies have a heavy debt load related to past and current plant construction costs. Converting to clean energy will entail additionmal debt which will be reflected in increased power costs to customers. Rather than being an inducement to hire additional employees, it appears to me it will have the opposite effect.
The stimulus program was supposed to generate millions of jobs. The clean energy program is supposed to generate millions of jobs.There are probably other programs on the drawing board we've never heard about that will promise us even more millions of jobs. Dang, we might not have enough people available to fill all of these jobs and will need to invite all of Mexico to come up and fill thse jobs. :D
Now, I can readily understand that converting to clean energy sources will require the manufacture of equipment for building the new generating systems, resulting in jobs in both manufacturing and construction. But, after the generaing stations are on line most of these jobs will be eliminated. The conversion to clean energy will result in some job losses, such as coal miners and other suppliers of energy sources. I can foresee a lateral transfer of employees from a closed down dirty energy generating plant to the new clean energy plant but I just can't see where these extra millions of jobs will be created.
Many of the existing power generating companies have a heavy debt load related to past and current plant construction costs. Converting to clean energy will entail additionmal debt which will be reflected in increased power costs to customers. Rather than being an inducement to hire additional employees, it appears to me it will have the opposite effect.
The stimulus program was supposed to generate millions of jobs. The clean energy program is supposed to generate millions of jobs.There are probably other programs on the drawing board we've never heard about that will promise us even more millions of jobs. Dang, we might not have enough people available to fill all of these jobs and will need to invite all of Mexico to come up and fill thse jobs. :D