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Renewable Richmond

In September, an independent organization named the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ( ACEEE ) issued a report on Virginia's potential energy future titled Energizing Virginia: Energy First. Prior to issuing this report, ACEEE had ranked Virginia 38 out of 50 states in employing energy-efficiency programs and technologies.

The ACEEE report was issued to provide concrete evidence that Virginia can meet a good portion of its electricity needs through multiple strategies that involve energy efficiency and demand reductions.

I found this to be an extremely important report; however I was not impressed with the publicity it received. For these reasons I want to share some ideas with you that may have great significance for Virginia's and our country's future.

ACEEE's findings highlighted eleven specific recommendations where Virginia policymakers can begin creating a more favorable environment toward energy efficiency. If these recommendations are met ACEEE proposes that Virginians' utility bills can be cut $15 billion by 2025. Close to 20 percent of Virginia's electricity needs can be met within this time frame as well.

Recommendations from the report include education initiatives to reduce demand, green building standards for homes, offices and industrial facilities as well as the creation of nearly 10,000 new green jobs in these sectors.

Green jobs are a hot topic of discussion, especially in the renewable energy sector. We heard both presidential nominees recently debate the environment and the inclusion of renewable sources of energy during their campaign runs. This is important because the more green jobs that are encouraged the less energy we are spending on dirty, polluting trades that don't carry a long-term focus towards sustainability for our planet.

Michael Renner, staff writer for World Watch, wrote in "Jobs in Renewable Energy Expanding" that at least 2.3 million people worldwide work either directly in renewables or in supplier industries including the wind power industry, solar photovoltaics sector and in the solar thermal industry. Additionally, more than one million jobs are found in the biomass and biofuels sector .

These numbers are far too low for what the transition away from fossil fuels will require of us.

Within the past two decades coal output rose by almost one-third, yet employment in that sector has been cut in half. This is a testament that is consistent with fossil fuel industries which rely heavily on expensive pieces of production equipment, not to mention are energy intensive and greatly polluting our atmosphere.

Eco-innovations in manufacturing, energy transport, renewables, transit and agriculture could greatly help the transition towards more sustainable green economy.

On September 27 a National Day of Action termed Green Jobs Now was mobilized across the country to encourage investment in the environmental sector.   According to Greenjobsnow.com more than 50,000 Americans came together to send a message to our leaders for a new "clean and green" economy.

The Back Porch Energy Initiative   is one organization working to develop Richmond's green economy, strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Back Porch is currently seeking funding to hire organizers from the inner-city and providing them with a committee to market education and training in community development and green jobs.

Through working with local people Back Porch supports the holistic development of community and economic skills that are valid for the environment. Investing manpower in green jobs such as storm water drainage, recycling, public utilities, equipment/suppliers and solar energy development is one of their goals and will be significant for our ecosystem's continued development.

I hope that green jobs continue to increase and slowly begin to phase out the more heavily polluting and expensive fossil fuel industries in coal, nuclear and natural gas. However, this transition will not occur without out-spoken citizens, education and commitments to decrease energy demand across the board.

The transition to a greener economy will not happen by itself because they are not as heavily subsidized as fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas. For a list of Virginia's current incentives for renewables log on to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website.

To become involved and see what environmental legislation is currently being debated, visit the League of Conservation Voters and Virginia Conservation Network websites. You can also see how 'green' your representatives vote in their respective committees and send them messages, encouraging them to vote for renewable energy incentives and green jobs. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard before the 111th U.S. Congress and Virginia's 2009 General Assembly sessions are scheduled to meet.

We all know that the recent financial crisis will cut spending; I'm hopeful that the renewable energy industry and green jobs will be the investment sectors for the country's recovery. With unemployment at a five-year high, this is the perfect time to encourage the development of a green economy.