Washington Climate Strategy Creates Jobs, Saves Money
By meeting climate pollution reduction goals Washington state by 2020 stands to create 23,100 new clean energy jobs, generate $900 million in economic benefits and save $4.9 billion on annual fuel imports.
Those are the conclusions of a new state climate strategy released by the Washington Climate Advisory Team appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire to craft a climate pollution strategy for the state.
“… we benefit from an enormous and perhaps unprecedented opportunity,” states A Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington. “As we answer the clarion call and tackle global warming successfully through responsible, reasonable and practical actions, we can seize the economic benefits that will accompany the innovation, investment and job creation that this remarkable endeavor will require and create.”
Goal of the strategy is to reduce Washington global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Its centerpiece is the setting of firm caps on global warming emissions and creation of a market trading system, in alignment with other states, to seek out the most economical pollution reductions. The market will set a price for emitting carbon into the atmosphere, which will spur innovation in carbon-reducing technologies.
“The price is what attracts investment . . ,” the strategy explains. “Once this strong market signal is in place, entrepreneurs, investors, business operators and individuals will be motivated to invest in emerging opportunities, technologies and choices to reduce carbon … For example, government can set a standard for low carbon fuels, and the subsequent capital attracted to that market opportunity will flow into fuel and vehicle technology that creates the necessary solutions.”
Gov. Gregoire set out accompanying goals to climate pollution reduction including tripling state clean energy jobs to 25,000 and reducing fuel imports into the state by 20 percent. If the strategy and recently enacted measures such as tailpipe emission standards are fully implemented, those goals could be substantially exceeded.
Meeting climate goals will result in creation of 23,100 new clean energy jobs in sectors including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells, energy efficiency and the smart grid, the climate strategy projects. This is in addition to 8,400 already existing clean energy jobs in Washington, bringing the total to 31,500.
“The development of clean, renewable energy technologies and associated jobs in research, industry and manufacturing is anticipated to bring this decade’s new wave of high-quality, “green collar” jobs,” the strategy notes.
Continue reading this article from Earth Share organization Climate Solutions:
Washington Climate Strategy Creates Jobs, Saves Money
