California led the way in environmental action once again by signing into law policies (AB32) for greatly reducing climate-affecting greenhouse gases (such as CO2 from fossil fuel combustion). National Public Radio has an interesting debate on the subject. The name of the game is cap and trade, the very same type of policy that we used in the 1980s to reduce acid rain-causing gases such as NOx and SOx. Essentially, the California government will set caps (upper production limits) on the levels of greenhouse gas emissions, and will trade emission levels (higher is some parts of the state, lower levels in other parts) among the state to achieve a net level of emission that meets the state cap level.
Fossil fuels are already heavily subsidized. We need to ask, is there a better way to use our tax dollars that also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and aids reduction in major climate changing forces? In making a comparison of solar and fossil fuel energy, we rarely admit that fossil fuels are hugely subsidized. On top of that, consider the prospects for major coal power plants. What is the one resource that the US has a temporary plentiful abundance of? Coal. What is one of the worst combustion sources for greenhouse gas production? That same material: coal. Texas is planning three new enormous coal power plants, set to make it one of the US’s worst states for greenhouse gas emitters. Couldn’t we be shifting our subsidies to crop damage, storm recovery, and renewable energy plans?
The NPR show makes a good point that jobs for electricians installing solar modules, or plumbers installing solar water heating modules cannot be subcontracted out to foreign countries for lower rates. This is something that requires American labor resources. As part of my research solar electrical materials in academia, I am aware of the need to know about the ground-level labor that is required for device implementation, and the industrial interest in these new technologies. From my own contacts in the renewable energy sector, I am finding that here in Wisconsin, USA, there is a very progressive interest in building the core structure for solar and wind energy use. There are more and more meetings for large industry, not to dream about solar energy, but to actively plan for the next wave of labor and materials that will be set in place to institute solar module installation in homes across Wisconsin. There are jobs in converting our economy to renewable energy.
