Report Says You can Cut Carbon Emissions and Create Jobs

Photo: Clean-energy technologies are creating jobs in North Carolina. Courtesy: www.energy.stanford.edu

August 12, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. - In less than three years, Durham-based Sustainable Industrial Solutions generated $2 million in revenue and more than doubled its workforce. Its success illustrates the findings of a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that found that clean-energy practices can create jobs in North Carolina - an additional 9,900 jobs by 2020.

The company's CEO, Jason Massey, said the report underscores what he sees on a daily basis.

"I just see it on the ground. I'll typically get an email almost once a day, requesting job foremen or directors of business development," Massey said.

Another finding of the report is that through increasing energy efficiency efforts, customers will also see a monthly savings on their energy bills - on average a little less than $3 a month - by 2020. Critics of advancing clean-energy policies say it will lead to higher energy bills and lost jobs, two factors the NRDC report contradicts.

Nationwide, the NRDC found that more than 200,000 jobs will be generated by cutting carbon pollution. Currently the EPA is proposing steps under the Clean Air Act to limit carbon pollution from new power plants. Dan Lashof, director of the NRDC Climate and Clean Air Program, said North Carolina has more potential than most states.

"In North Carolina we find one of the states that really does well under the carbon pollution standard proposal," Lashof said.

Jobs in the manufacturing of clean-energy technologies, such as solar and wind, should expect growth, Lashof added, as well as those related to increasing energy efficiency. He said clean energy is a "win-win."

"Contrary to the claims of critics, reducing carbon pollution from power plants is not only the right thing to do, it's good for our health and good for jobs," he added.

According to the NRDC, power plants are the country's biggest source of carbon pollution, emitting about 2.4 billion tons of CO2 each year and accounting for nearly 40 percent of the nation's total carbon emissions.

The NRDC report is available at www.nrdc.org.

Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service - NC

Source: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/33932-1

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