Economic Development

While our current economy flounders about, trying desperately not to keel over and die, many argue that going green will turn America back into a powerhouse once again. Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times op-ed columnist, feels that by the United States leading the way in clean, efficient energy, we will spur innovative breakthroughs in technology while redistributing power from oil producing countries.

He also believes taxing oil use will deter people from utilizing it as opposed to cleaner options. He also suggests that we look at our utilities in a different light. What if we were charged based on energy saved instead of energy used? Apparently scenarios like this have already begun in California and Idaho.

President Barack Obama has said that creating a green economy will also create more jobs. Heck, in my opinion it will create a whole new industry! We will require manufacturors of wind and solar power machinary, mechanics to work on them, workers to run them, as well as many more scientists and engineers.

Will we be able to keep 6 billion people happy without destroying our planet? Only time will tell.