November 21, 2009
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Coastal interests in clean-energy legislation
Wariness prevails for Missourians as bills rise to debate
Wariness prevails for Missourians as bills rise to debate
Arguments rage over the existence of global warming and the methods proposed to address it. Set aside the science one moment and allow Missourians a fairly obvious observation on national politics.
Assume that even those legislators with the planet's best interest at heart still must answer to home-state constituents.
Then consider that the primary climate-change legislation being offered in the U.S. House goes by the name of the Markey-Waxman Bill.
That's Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Rep. Henry Waxman of California.
On Wednesday, two members of the U.S. Senate put forth a measure called the Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
That's Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California.
There are 50 states in the union, and the entire nation has a stake in the provisions of carbon-reducing legislation.
That Massachusetts and California have the market cornered on authorship of these bills provides pause for the middle section of the country.
In Missouri, where carbon-based coal generates the power for most homes, the feeling of an unlevel playing field already makes residents wary.
As debate on these measures hit full speed, it's reasonable to expect Missourians to look east and west, wondering whose interests are being served.
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I feel that Missouri's interests are served by this bill. The Midwest has been held hostage by coal for too long, and clean energy legislation would encourage the growth of clean energy in the states that need it most. Missouri's clean energy industry already has a 5.4% job growth rate, and this state is expected to gain almost 36,000 new jobs if a clean energy bill passes. Why should we limit ourselves to coal, a fuel that has only survived because of massive government subsidies over the years, when there are great opportunities for energy innovation and job growth in the renewables market? Equally as important, key industries in Missouri could save millions through untapped energy efficiency measures that this bill would identify and encourage.
I would be proud of Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond if they got on board with the coasts and took leadership on this bill, because it addresses major issues for the Midwest. If anything, we should ask why our senators are allowing coastal representatives to take all the credit on clean energy, rather than leading the way on what could be a great financial boon for Missouri. Senators, we need your vote for clean energy this fall!
36,000 jobs may be gained at the cost of hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in the region due the the sharply increased cost of electricity. Manufacturing is barely hanging on by the skin of it's teeth and the damn fools want to increase the cost of doing business and finish it off. I want someone to explain to me how increasing the cost of doing business is going to create a NET increase in jobs. I will save you the trouble, it doesn't work that way!
Saving the ecology is a luxury afforded to the affluent. Let's get the motor of the economy running on all cylinders again before we decide to pour sand in the crankcase.