This has nothing to do with the economy or jobs.
Unless you are talking about dumping more money into the green money pit, this is an utterly useless subject for the upcoming elections.
It has everything to do with the economy and jobs.
The Chinese government spent $34.6 billion last year to propel its low-carbon economy, more than any other nation and almost double what the U.S. invested. The country is now headquarters for six of the biggest renewable energy employersup from three in 2008according to Clean Tech Job Trends 2009.
China winning race for green jobs
Donald Gilligan, president of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), cited estimates that improvements in energy efficiency alone have met over 50 percent of the increase in U.S. energy demand since 1980. Much of this improvement has resulted from mandates and guidance provided by Congress and by state and federal agencies, including funding for technological innovation programs and the adoption of new rules promoting performance-based energy service contracting, appliance and equipment standards, and revised building codes.
These government directives, together with direct investments by private-sector energy providers, have supported the growth in both energy-efficiency resources and green jobs in the United States. In a recent survey, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that energy service companies provide about $4 billion in annual energy-efficiency investment nationwide, 25 to 30 percent of which is spent on labor to design, install, operate, and maintain comprehensive energy-efficiency projects in a wide range of building sectors.
Policymakers Recognize Value of Green Job Creation
