Lots of Jobs cleaning up the environment, not building new sprawl
*** Apologies – NJ.Com took down the photos, which were originally published on my “NJ Voices” column at NJ.Com. I was able to save the text, but not the photos. What assholes.
solar – clean energy, good jobsWhy don’t construction unions and the business community ever talk about all the jobs and economic activity created by environmental programs?
In this case, well paid construction jobs were created by DEP clean water requirements.
Upgrading environmental infrastructure and compliance with environmental laws creates thousands of jobs.
Germany recently created 170,000 well paid high technology jobs in just one segment of the solar industry –
NJ could create hundreds of thousands more jobs and thousands of new small businesses right here in NJ in we got serious about investing in and regulating a transition to an energy efficient, renewable energy, high environmental quality economy.
I never hear the lobbyists or officials in Trenton say that. I never read that in the newspaper.
Wonder why?
Bill, EXCELLENT POINT!
I presume that such a transition would require retraining–even tho in the long run, it would provide much-needed income to state and to individuals, do you think unions, DEP, etc.–not to mention the workers themselves–would be willing to consider this?
Could the fact that people are trained for, and then for the rest of their lives often, think they can do only a very specific job interfere w/this?
I think that everyone should get onboard and in local papers, letters to legislators, unions, etc., begin to discuss this.
Considering that (unless something has changed) the DEP is still not collecting easement fees, concessionaire fees, etc., it’s highly unlikely that its staff and chief would go for this. Not to mention the other gov’t entities, developers, and the mindsets that support them.
But keep railing, Wolfe! Keep suggesting. Hopefully, someone is listening.
Billy,
How are you my friend ?
Currently installing D. X. (Direct echange) geothermal hot water systems in Bronx, N.Y.
Understand N.J. has put halt to all geothermal projects. Is that true to your knowledge ?
Randall