Everyone, of course, remembers the quote attributed to Jennifer Granholm during the last campaign: "in five years, you're going to be blown away..." Well, the blows part did come true.
Anyway, we've also heard a load of hooey from the Guvnerette about wind power and green jobs, etc. Here's a refresher: (Granholm Says Renewable Energy Sector...)
Anyway, we've also heard a load of hooey from the Guvnerette about wind power and green jobs, etc. Here's a refresher: (Granholm Says Renewable Energy Sector...)
"Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that Michigan's plan to diversify the state's economy by growing the renewable energy sector to create jobs is the right plan for Michigan...."By investing in our work force, manufacturing infrastructure, and natural resources, we can make Michigan the state that helps end our nation's dependence on foreign oil and create good- paying jobs in the process." Granholm said. "Michigan is uniquely positioned to diversify its economy and create jobs by growing the renewable energy sector."The Germans have been doing this for a while, with less than impressive results.
"While employment projections in the renewable sector convey seemingly impressive prospects for gross job growth, they typically obscure the broader implications for economic welfare by omitting any accounting of off-setting impacts. These impacts include, but are not limited to, job losses from crowding out of cheaper forms of conventional energy generation, indirect impacts on upstream industries, additional job losses from the drain on economic activity precipitated by higher electricity prices, private consumers' overall loss of purchasing power due to higher electricity prices, and diverting funds from other, possibly more beneficial investment."You can read more details here: Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energies: The German experience
"Although Germany's promotion of renewable energies is commonly portrayed in the media as setting a "shining example in providing a harvest for the world" (The Guardian 2007), we would instead regard the country's experience as a cautionary tale of massively expensive environmental and energy policy that is devoid of economic and environmental benefits.
Not really a resounding plan.
Next thing you know you'll all be driving wind-powered cars.
Posted by: JR | 29 October 2009 at 08:56 AM