This Labor Day, a quarter million jobs (250,000) could open in the nation's private sector IF 381 energy projects were allowed to move forward. And, these jobs EXCLUDE drilling for more oil or digging for more coal.
These are jobs to build and operate new electricial energy generating and transmission projects, but they are sidelined by appeals and government regulations. All they need is the green light from government. Instead they are wrapped up in government red tape or should I say government GREEN TAPE.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce calculates there is $560 billion in direct and private investments waiting on the sidelines for permits to move ahead. The biggest share of the projects are renewables, principally wind farms.
In Washington, the U.S. Chamber lists four stalled energy projects; however, that list is not inclusive. For example, it does not list the Whistling Ridge wind farm in Skamania County near White Salmon which a few homeowners, the Friends of the Gorge and other environmental groups are trying to kill. Those 50 wind turbines would generate enough electricity for 20,000 Northwest homes.
Then there is a growing number of small woodwaste biomass energry projects which may go on hold because of new EPA regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions. Essentially, if EPA moves forward with the adoption of these new standards, the Obama Adminstration may accomplish much of what it want by regulation and would circumvent Congress.
On August 26, the EnergyDaily Network reported:
"An Environmental Protection Agency plan to tighten emission limits for new and existing industrial boilers has sparked alarmed protests from the biomass generation industry and electric utilities, who say the proposed regulations are so onerous they threaten to shut down existing biomass power plants and already are chilling deployment of new facilities."
Perhaps when the electric bill bust the family budget, people flip on their light switches and nothing happens, and brownouts come to the nation's capitol, things will change. Then maybe we can return to building wind turbines and biomass generating plants to power our electric cars.
Right now that is a BIG IF!
Don C. Brunell, President (DonB@awb.org)
