Mayors Expect Millions Of New Green Jobs

(AP)  A major shift to renewable energy and efficiency is expected to produce 4.2 million new environmentally friendly "green" jobs over the next three decades, according to a study commissioned by the nation's mayors.

The study to be released Thursday by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, says that about 750,000 people work today in what can be considered green jobs from scientists and engineers researching alternative fuels to makers of wind turbines and more energy-efficient products.

But that's less than one half of 1 percent of total employment. By 2038, another 4.2 million green jobs are expected to be added, accounting for 10 percent of new job growth over the next 30 years, according to the report by Global Insight, Inc.

"It could be the fastest growing segment of the United States economy over the next several decades and dramatically increase its share of total employment," said the report, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

However, the study cautioned such job growth won't be realized without an aggressive shift away from traditional fossil fuels toward alternative energy and a significant improvement in energy efficiency.

For example, it assumes by 2038 alternative energy will account for 40 percent of electricity production with half of that coming from wind and solar; widespread retrofitting of buildings to achieve a 35 percent reduction in electricity use; and 30 percent of motor fuels coming from ethanol or biodiesel.

Alternative energy such as wind, geothermal, biomass and solar, currently accounts for less than 3 percent of electricity generation and nonfossil sources such as ethanol and biodiesel about 5 percent of all motor fuels, the report notes.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, the conference's president, said the report makes "a very compelling economic argument for investing in the green economy and that we're going to get a huge return for it."

"These are things we have to do," said Diaz in a telephone interview, adding that "Washington needs to get on the train."

Both presidential candidates have cited the jobs potential if the country embraces alternative energy and efficiency.

Democratic nominee Barack Obama predicts investments in a "clean energy economy" over the next 10 years "will help the private sector create 5 million new green jobs" - a more ambitious projection than outlined by the study provided the mayors.

GOP rival John McCain's energy blueprint makes no specific job growth forecast but declares development of green jobs and green technology "vital to our economic future."

The report, being presented at a mayor's conference in Miami, predicts the biggest job gain will be from the increased use of alternative transportation fuels, with 1.5 million additional jobs, followed by the renewable power generating sector with 1.2 million new jobs. Another 81,000 additional jobs will be generated by industries related to making homes and commercial buildings more energy efficient, the study said.

And it predicted an additional 1.4 million green jobs related to engineering, research, consulting and legal work.

"We're trying to show the size of the green jobs economy" assuming policy shifts toward less dependence on fossil fuels, said Jim Diffley of Global Insight.

[praiseallah1]

Bill O''Reilly freaks out at Congressman Barney Frank over his role in the Fannie/Freddie scandal which caused our current economic crisis! It''s HILLARIOUS!

Go watch these videos documenting the fraud of our elected officials http://wallstreetmarketnews.blogspot.com

[hotwitch]

Maybe 30 years from now I''ll get a green job pumping bio-diesel at the local mini-mart.

[idnnsg]

yellow651, what comic book gave you all your misinformation?

[caliengineer]

The EPA was established in 1974 on a 25 year charter from the Federal Government of the U.S. In 1999, that charter was NOT renewed. They now have NO legal basis for enforcing their policies over the people of America. When the Governator wanted to increase min. mpg on autos, he had to SUE the EPA to do so.

To fund itself, the EPA "fines" farmers and other businesses which are not organized into powerful coalitions. They start off with fines in the millions of dollars, then negotiate down to hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands. EPA must fine in order to fund itself- it no longer receives tax dollars.

To negotiate, businesses must hire environmental engineers and pay for environmental impact studies, air studies, wind studies, endangered animal studies, etc, etc, etc.

The "green" industry will continue to increase.

[standlee5]

What a crock

[yellow651]

This is clearly the biggest scam since Enron. What are all these impaired mayors going to say when they realize that the Earth is now cooling because of a reduction in solar activity and carbon had nothing to do with the recent warming trend? I suppose they will say it''s better to be green, even thought it has ruined economies all over the World and starved millions.