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Green economy is a robust economy

GUEST COMMENTARY

By LEE BRINSON

Published: October 4, 2009

Have you seen Ken Burns' 1997 documentary on the Lewis and Clark expedition? Their daring journey into the unknown staggers the imagination. With President Jefferson's vision and Lewis' preparation, the Corps of Discovery set out to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

Their problems were overcome with the skills and talents so abundant among Americans — adaptability and innovation. The expedition's reports of infinite potential in the west led to a flood of exploration and development that raised the prestige of the United States and laid the foundation for our coming economic power.

Once again, this nation is standing at a precipice, but this time it is energy exploration. Do we stay with failed policies or do we embark on the journey of energy technology and innovation?

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) is the vision and the blueprint to escape our fatally flawed energy practices and policies. It calls for an incremental weaning of fossil fuels while simultaneously and incrementally increasing use of clean renewable energy. The goal is to receive 85 percent of our electricity from renewable energy by 2050 and to reduce our toxic fossil fuel emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Green energy creates a cleaner environment and healthier lives, but also jobs for economic revitalization. With renewable energy, we circumvent the problem of oil as a finite resource and having to rely on unfriendly nations for 75 percent of our daily supply of gas.

The reduction of capital to petro-dictators that keeps them in power affords us more to spend on our economy and less we have to borrow.

Our goal of improving our economy with clean energy is enhanced with a program of energy efficiency and sustainability. Today, Catawba County's Blackburn Landfill is practicing sustainable methods with positive results. One hundred and 50 jobs have been created and three one-megawatt generators burn methane naturally produced from the landfill to supply electricity for 1,400 average-size homes.

Shortly, 14 City of Hickory buildings will begin retrofitting for energy efficiency, saving the city tens of thousands of dollars.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs can be created all over the nation.

Entrepreneurs have been wary of investing in renewable energy because our current policies promote fossil fuel use. ACES will infuse federal funds for clean energy. Investors then will have the incentive to innovate and adapt with changing technologies and more jobs will be created.

The weaning from fossil fuel will be accomplished by a system of cap and trade. Under this capitalistic system, market forces will allow businesses to find the cheapest and fastest way to eliminate greenhouse gases. The Congressional Budget Office estimates cap and trade will cost the average family 50 cents a day. What a bargain!

Like Lewis and Clark's expedition, ACES will lay the foundation for the rejuvenation of our economy while increasing national security.

If we act today, not only will it be less expensive than later, but you will not have to answer your grandchildren's question, "Why didn't you do something when you had the chance?"

Lee Brinson is a resident of Hickory.