Solar energy in the US employs more people than traditional coal, gas and oil combined, a report has found, in a revelation that could undermine Donald Trump’s argument that green energy isn’t good for the economy.
The latest report from the US Department of Energy (DOE) reveals solar energy accounts for the largest proportion of employers in the Electric Power Generation sector, with wind energy the third largest, while the coal industries have declined in the past 10 years.
Solar energy employed 374,000 people over the year 2015-2016, making up 43 per cent of the sector’s workforce, while the traditional fossil fuels combined employed 187,117, making up just 22 per cent of the workforce, according to the report.
“Proportionally, solar employment accounts for the largest share of workers in the Electric Power Generation sector. This is largely due to the construction related to the significant build out of new solar generation capacity,” the report states.
Look a fast growing industry that promises more jobs, a guaranteed return for investors, and no negative impact on the environment.
Gee if only our country were run by a smart businessman type who recognized a great opportunity for economic growth.
O/T Questions swirl after Trump admin says tax will pay for wall
ReplyDeleteBy JOSH LEDERMAN and JOSH BOAK - The Associated Press
Much was left unanswered. Would Mexico be footing the bill or American consumers? What items would become more expensive? Is this even legal?
Some of the details Trump's proposal still has to work out:
IS IT A TAX, A TARIFF OR SOMETHING ELSE?
It's unclear.
The idea appears to overlap with a plan House Republicans are pushing called "border adjustment." Under this plan, the U.S. would refrain from taxing American companies' exports, but would tax imports.
The new revenues are projected to top $1 trillion over a decade. The money had been envisioned as an offset for lowering U.S. corporate income tax rates, though House Republicans say it could also pay for a wall.
Trump, however, recently said he didn't like the "border adjustment" idea.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR AMERICANS?
Mexican products would become more expensive.
U.S. exporters are behind the House plan because it would reduce their taxes.
Here's the flip side: Importers, including big retailers and consumer electronics firms, say the higher prices for Mexican products could hurt sales. And that means American jobs.
Retailers such as Wal-Mart also could face higher tax burdens.
WOULD MEXICO REALLY BE PAYING?
Not quite.
The U.S. could recoup some of the wall's costs by changing the tax and trade policies with Mexico. But the money wouldn't necessarily be coming from Mexican taxpayers or the Mexican government.
While the tax would land first on companies exporting from Mexico, the costs would likely be passed on to consumers. That leaves Americans footing much of the likely bill.
IS IT LEGAL?
To be determined.
The U.S. has a range of obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement and at the World Trade Organization. And Mexico is likely to challenge any new tax that penalizes its economy.
Trump has said he plans to renegotiate NAFTA. Mexico, however, is under no obligation to soften the agreement for his sake.
Other countries may also object, if their products and services are targeted.
HOW WOULD THIS AFFECT THE ECONOMY?
A topic of great dispute.
Any turbulence in the U.S.-Mexican trade relationship could have implications for the entire world.
Mexico is the second-largest exporter to the United States, after China. The United States imported roughly $271 billion of goods from Mexico during the first 11 months of 2016, according to the Commerce Department, and ran a trade deficit of almost $60 billion.
DO REPUBLICANS LIKE TRUMP'S PLAN?
Not all of them.
Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan said on Twitter it would be a "tax on Americans to pay for the wall." Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he was "mucho sad" and that "any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila or margaritas is a big-time bad idea."
Even Trump's pick for commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, dismissed the idea of using tariffs as a trade ploy.
Republicans have traditionally hailed themselves as the party of free trade.
WHAT OTHER WAYS COULD TRUMP GET MEXICO TO PAY?
During the campaign, Trump floated a number of possibilities without committing to any in particular.
He proposed changing a rule under the USA Patriot Act to block some of the roughly $25 billion in remittances that Mexicans living in the U.S. send home each year. He said he would refuse to free up the money until Mexico agrees to pay the U.S. between $5 billion and $10 billion.
Opponents of that plan say Mexicans in the U.S. would likely find other ways to send money back. They could take cash with them when traveling, wire money to a non-Mexican bank or use off-the-books transfers that are difficult to police.
Trump also suggested increasing visa fees for Mexicans to raise money, or canceling business and tourist visas issued to Mexicans until their country pays for the wall.
Like any other complicated proposal there will be yooge winners and yooge losers.
DeleteWith billions and billions of dollars at stake what are the chances that the Hair Furor and his kleptocratic butt buddies are the ones taking it in the kiester when they get this led balloon to launch?
Oh gosh and trump is suppose to be such great businessman, another lie.
ReplyDelete=====================================
Trump's regulation freeze makes losers out of some U.S. businesses
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-regulation-freeze-businesses-234250
There are negative impacts on the environment. Don't kid yourself. However, renewable energy is far better than fossil fuels.
ReplyDeleteOur local news last night had a segment on diesel fuels in the air near a park and elementary school being five times was considered safe. Well, DUH, it is within a mile of a major interstate saturated with big rigs any given day.
DeleteThis isn't rocket science, and these people need to wake the hell up.
My husband and I recently had this argument that this is the reason Hillary lost. He cited the rally she had with the coal people and when asked about their jobs (according to my husband) she has a deer in the headlights look. My argument was that these people can be trained for jobs in this newer field. He didn't buy that. I am going to show him this post. He just doesn't seem to see or think long term I guess.
ReplyDeleteThose coal miners need to get their heads out of the mines, even McConnell said there will not be any new coal mining jobs.
DeleteThese coal miners also have to get their bodies of the narcotics.
DeleteLet's start there. Then perhaps they can be ready, willing and able to train for new jobs.
https://qz.com/866771/drug-wholesalers-shipped-9-million-opioid-painkillers-over-two-years-to-a-single-west-virginia-pharmacy/
I fear they will not be here for long.
ReplyDeleteDown the memory hole they go under this crazy man who is NMP.
Solar energy, does trump have stock in the companies? If not, bye bye.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand could also be that trump has never heard of solar energy, after all he gets all his info from FOX, therefore the companies will be saved.
Sure, Gryphen, that sounds good today. But, have you forgotten that Donald J Drumpf wakes up with the nuclear codes clutched in his tiny, tiny hands?
ReplyDeleteAny smart businessperson today has to be developing a contingency plan for a minimum of 1000 year long post-Drumpf nuclear winter. It's just common sense.
When a lunatic is in control of a massive quantity of nuclear weapons it's reasonable to expect they will use them.
Solar ain't gonna do ya much good when the forecast every day for hundreds of years is "5 below zero with a 50% chance of snow".
Preppers and top-rated End-of-the-World enthusiasts warned us for YEARS that President Obama was bringing us to the brink of annihilation.
And they were RIGHT!!
They were just off on the name of the president who would finally fulfill their doomsday prophesies.
IOKIYAR!
DeleteHalf of those idiots think Left Behind was a real life documentary. They hope and tithe and vote for the Paul Ryans and Donald Trumps of the world so they don't have to wait very long to be ruptured by nookler war and the second coming of jeebus!
IOKIYAR!
ReplyDeleteHalf of those idiots think Left Behind was a real life documentary. They hope and tithe and vote for the Paul Ryans and Donald Trumps of the world so they don't have to wait very long to be ruptured by nookler war and the second coming of jeebus!
Much like oil has been, solar and alternate energy industries are very heavily subsidized. even more so. It is a propped up industry.
ReplyDeleteAnd the U.S. is STILL #5 in the world for renewables.
ReplyDeleteNow how many jobs would be created if the U.S. worked to become #1 in the world?
If Donald Trump wants to "make America great" and create jobs, he should look at making us #1 in renewable energy. That we have a shot at. Plus it's killing multiple avians with one projectile.