green economy « Nesmith's Notes

US #1 in Wind Energy Capacity

2008 was a bumper year for wind energy investment. The US added 8,300 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to lead the world with 25,170 MW. 42% of the country’s new power-producing capacity came from wind. The 50% increase in wind power generation also created 35,000 jobs bringing the total employee bast to 85,000.

Worldwide over 27 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity was added. China doubled capacity to 12.2 GW and is on tract to double capacity again in 2009 and may reach its goal of 30 (GW) by 2010, ten years ahead of plan. All of Asia added about 8.3 GW with Europe and North America adding 8.9 GW each.

In the US, the financial crisis hit the wind industry and orders for turbines and components has slowed to a trickle. This needs to be reversed quickly if the US is to stay ahead of schedule to reach 300 GW of wind capacity, or 20% of our electricity needs, by 2030.

Economy, Energy, Environment, green economy

10Dec

Van Jones on Green Economics

Filed in Energy | Environment

Big Think shares the views of Van Jones president of profiting from a Green Economy.

Van is correct that the Green Economy can provide opportunities for a people of all walks of life. And that we have to move and move quickly. The need to conserve, use renewables and offset Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) will create many jobs where there have been few. (i.e. Building Nuclear and Wind power stations.) There will be many jobs that come from the need to reduce GHGs throughout the rest of the economy starting with our own actions to conserve energy. And while the US does need to move toward better family balance sheets, the picture painted here is overly bleak.

Energy, Environment, green economy