Posted by
Always To The Right on Friday, January 30, 2009 12:06:46 AM
Polls show Americans care most about jobs right now, and couldn't
care less about global warming. So why does the economic stimulus plan
attempt to marry the two?
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In Washington, there's a breathless rush to turn the economy around
by greening it. But are "green-collar" jobs and green infrastructure
really the jobs and industries of the future that our "brilliant" new
economic planners claim?
Most Americans don't seem to think so. According to the latest Pew
Research poll, they rank the "economy" and "jobs" as the nation's top
two priorities. The "environment" stood 16th out of 20, and "global
warming" finished dead last.
Average Americans certainly aren't making the same connection
between these issues as the political elite in Washington, who are
confident replacing lightbulbs will simultaneously save the planet and
the economy.
Does government really know better? Or is this whole "green economy" push just one more big boondoggle — like ethanol?
The same wonks who pushed ethanol are now pushing green economic
stimulus as part of President Obama's brain trust. They plan to create
millions of new jobs by building solar panels and wind turbines — two
terribly inefficient energy producers.
Solar panels achieve about 35% efficiency, while windmills get only
slightly better — 50% efficiency. Efficiency means how much of the
energy source can actually be converted to electricity. Wind and solar
are inefficient because they demand vast amounts of land.
For example, wind power requires about 10 square feet of land to
generate enough wattage for a light bulb. A natural gas plant takes up
to 200 times less space to generate the same power.
But don't tell that to the new administration.
The president honestly believes wind and solar farms will be the
economic drivers of the future. Just like ethanol was supposed to be
the fuel of the future?
Once again, "experts" in Washington who've never worked a day in the
private sector think they can pick winners and losers in private
industry — despite their awful track record.