Federal policy creates Ind. jobs

The strongest federal policy could create up to 45,000 jobs in Indiana, increasing incomes by $1,200 and growing the state economy by $2.5 billion, according to a press release by Indiana Businesses for a Clean Energy Economy. 

The study, led by the University of California, examined the long-term economic impacts of climate legislation on the U.S. economy.

According to the study, the United States can gain up to 1.9 million jobs and increase the household income by $487 to $1,175 per year by 2020 through energy conservation, renewable energy and limits on carbon pollution. 

The new economic analysis came prior to the U.S. Senate deliberations on clean energy and international climate change negotiations, which will be held in Copenhagen in December. 

Tina Noel, representative for IBCEE, said Indiana can become a leader in clean job creation, and such clean jobs can involve making wind turbine parts in Indiana versus buying them overseas.

“Wind power, solar power, geothermal energy will have extraordinarily positive impact on Indiana’s economy,” Noel said.

The study is an economic assessment of the American Clean Energy and Security Act and the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The ACES, which was approved on June 26, focuses on a cap-and-trade global warming reduction plan and a transition to a clean-energy economy. 

Senate committee hearings started this week on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, which was introduced in the Senate on Sept. 30 by Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. The bill aims to reduce carbon pollution by 80 percent by 2050 from 2005’s levels. 

Jesse Kharbanda, the executive director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the major criticism for the bill is that it will drive up consumers’ energy bills. However, he said the actual numbers are reasonable prices to pay when the country as a whole is facing a number of different challenges, including dealing with energy security, revitalization of manufacturing and mitigating impacts of global warming.

“Indiana is very well positioned to attract clean energy jobs,” Kharbanda said.
Devin Hartman, a graduate student at SPEA, said sometimes studies do not emphasize the reduction of jobs in other areas. 

He said it is important to consider the net effect of the economy when conducting these kinds of studies.

“Creating green jobs will also cause loss of dirty jobs,” Hartman said.