The green job boom: Renewable energy supporters say the industry could create millions of new jobs, but economists are split.

Summary: Investing in renewable energy may create an explosion of new jobs. The Apollo Institute says 3 million new jobs in the next ten years. The Energy and Resources Group at California Berkley says 1 million new jobs by 2020. It is thus debated how much intervention the government should take to boost the renewable energy sector. Regardless, some new jobs are certain but just how many is still uncertain.

My Take: I’d like to focus not on the job question but on the government intervention being called for. I know many people are for government staying out of the markets and letting the winners and losers sort themselves out. To that end, I think that method works well but at the same time, there are two reason why the government should want to step in here, job creation or not, and bolster the renewable energy market. First, with the wealth and resources we have as a nation, there must be some sort of responsibility that falls upon on to lead the way in becoming more environmentally friendly. No one complained when we pumped money into being the first to the moon and certainly, achieving a victory in the renewable energy arena will bring much longer lasting reward (i.e., sustainable life as we know it). Second, to be selfish and self-serving, do we as a nation want to fall behind Germany and Australia when it comes to anything? I know it is a world economy now and I also am not saying to impede on progress made in other countries, but what happened to the pride we had as Americans when we put the first man on the moon? Why shouldn’t our generation go down in history for something great and far more lasting than just fighting off terrorist? So to that end, the government needs to do what it needs to do.

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