How can alternative energy help the economy

This report outlines key economic benefits of renewable energy on public lands, the importance of pursuing responsible development, and the most important steps we can take to grow benefits to our economy and environment. By making this information available now we hope to equip decisionmakers with tools for making smart investments in the coming months and years. And we hope the public will use this information to demand equitable, just, and environmentally responsible solutions for our economic and energy future.

Nikki Springer, Ph. Renewable energy generation on public lands makes important contributions to our economy. These projects represent billions of dollars in capital investments and provide thousands of construction and operations and maintenance jobs.

Once online, the projects provide steady revenue to the U. Moreover, these models generate this basic finding without considering some of the major ways in which clean-energy policies can stimulate economic growth.

These include the expansion of employment opportunities itself, a reduction in the trade deficit, promoting technological improvements and thus falling prices in renewable energy sources, and reducing the negative impacts on economic activity of greenhouse gas emissions and unmitigated global warming.

To be sure, any economic modeling effort that estimates changes in employment growth, economic growth, and income growth will result in forecasts that are problematic by nature. We make this clear in our paper wherever we rely on our own economic models and those employed by others.

But we also take pains to examine the relative strengths and weaknesses of all the modeling approaches—including our own. This enables us to cross check our own conclusions with those of other researchers to reach the most reliable possible understanding of the overall impact of advancing a clean-energy agenda within the U.

Richard W. Caperton , Kate Gordon. Kevin DeGood. Read the full report pdf Download the executive summary pdf State fact sheets: Clean Energy Investment Creates Jobs in Every State Interactive Map: A State-by-State Look at Clean Energy and Job Creation The United States in the 21st century faces an enormous challenge—successfully managing the transformation from a predominantly carbon-intensive economy to becoming a predominantly clean energy-based economy.

But there are only three interrelated objectives that will define the entire enterprise: Dramatically increasing energy efficiency. Dramatically lowering the cost of supplying energy from such renewable sources of energy as solar, wind and biomass. Mandating limits and then establishing a price on pollution from the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas.

But the legislation contains three broad categories of initiatives that are unlikely to change in substance: Regulations aimed at promoting clean energy. A mandated cap on carbon emissions that will be phased in through Using a combination of renewable energy options can help meet local government goals especially in some regions where availability and quality of renewable resources vary.

Generating renewable energy on-site using a system or device at the location where the power is used e. Purchasing green power through through renewable energy certificates RECs - also known as green tags, green energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates — that represent the technology and environmental attributes of electricity generated from renewable resources.

Purchasing renewable energy from an electric utility through a green pricing or green marketing program, where buyers pay a small premium in exchange for electricity generated locally from green power resources. On-site power generation provides local governments with the most direct access to renewable energy. In addition to the overall benefits, on-site projects also provide a hedge against financial risks and improve power quality and supply reliability.

However, local governments considering on-site generation may face possible technical, financial, and regulatory challenges. Switching to renewable energy is an excellent way for residential, commercial and industrial energy customers to save money on their bills.

Installing solar panels on your property allows you to generate your own electricity, theoretically giving you the ability to reduce your energy bill to zero. The exact amount you save depends on many factors, including where you live.

Installing renewable energy equipment on your property can help increase its value significantly. Homeowners may be able to recoup a significant amount of the cost of installing their solar modules when they sell their house. Adding solar panels to your home may also help you sell it faster. Using more renewable energy could help the United States achieve energy independence — the ability to meet energy needs domestically, thereby reducing dependence on foreign nations and susceptibility to changing overseas energy prices.

Increasing the amount of renewable energy in the U.