Building a Green Economy

Whenever legislation to price carbon starts to gain traction, the fossil fuel industry trots out this talking point: "It will kill jobs and ruin the economy." In this report, however, CCL volunteer Joseph Robertson ties together numerous reports and case studies to present a different picture, one in which the transition to clean energy will produce millions of new jobs and provide an ongoing stimulus to the economy. The transition to a clean, sustainable energy economy requires a shift in how markets deal with the costs of carbon-dioxide emissions. The success of tax shifting policies outside the U.S. demonstrates that job creation will be the hallmark of the clean-energy revolution. The potential for efficiency gains from clean-energy and smart-grid technologies will free up massive amounts of consumer spending over time and relieve dependence on fossil fuels from hostile states. Communities in remote areas, or which rely on coal for cheap energy or for employment, can benefit economically from diversifying into and taking ownership of clean renewable-energy technologies, and participating in the building of a stronger, more vibrant energy future.