Energy Efficiency Proposals Could Create 333,000 Jobs in 2010

According to the American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a proposal has been made that would create up to 333,000 energy efficient jobs in 2010, and then 184,000 in 2011. The proposed programs include residential and commercial retrofit programs and an energy efficient manufacturing grant program. These programs would create jobs because energy efficient improvements are labor intensive thus requiring more construction and service sector jobs, as well as create a small number of jobs even after the stimulus period if over because the energy bill savings will enable consumers to save money thus allowing them to spend money elsewhere in the economy. These provisions focus on improving productivity, creating jobs, and leveraging government, consumer, and business funds in the best possible light.
The "home star" program would provide rebates for energy efficient improvements to homeowners is estimated to create about 126,000 jobs in 2010 and 36,000 in 2011; while also improving up to 3 million homes at a cost of $6 billion dollars.
The "building star" program would offer rebates for up to 30% of the cost of improving lighting, insulation, and energy management for commercial buildings. As we learned last class, commercial buildings use the majority of energy thus these improvements could make great strides to reducing energy usage. This program would create 130,000 jobs in 2010 and 57,000 in 2011.
The last proposal is to help manufacturers create energy efficient and clean energy product manufacturing projects with a grant of $4 billion. This proposal is also supposed to create 77,000 jobs in 2010 and 91,000 in 2011.
Lets all hope these proposals happen and are able to create such a large amount of jobs; we all know our economy could use this!

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/19908