Energy News Updates

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A new report from the Breakthrough Institute takes on the topic that has created a stir among clean energy and good jobs advocates in recent weeks: U.S. competitiveness in the global clean energy economy. The topic has come to the attention of green jobs advocates and policy makers alike, as media reports have emerged about plans by clean-tech companies to source many of their components from overseas.

The Breakthrough Institute study, Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant, finds that China, Japan and South Korea are poised to out-compete the United States for dominance of clean energy markets because those countries are outspending the U.S. by at least three-to-one on clean energy infrastructure and technology. China alone plans new direct investments in clean technology of at least $440 billion to $660 billion over ten years. By comparison, the U.S. will invest $172 billion over five years in clean technology if the Senate approves a clean energy and climate bill similar to the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

In addition to the larger public investments by Asian countries, the report says that the direct and coordinated nature of the investments "will confer significant advantages by developing each of the areas necessary to achieve a competitive economic advantage in the clean energy industry: research and innovation, manufacturing, and domestic market demand, as well as supportive infrastructure."

Read the report, Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant.

The Apollo Alliance has been vigorously advocating for U.S. policies that address America's clean energy competitive disadvantage. This week, our board members had two op-eds published on this very topic. Michael Peck of Gamesa USA and Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers published an op-ed called "A green economy can resurrect Main Street" in the Tribune Democrat of Johnstown, Penn. They wrote, "America is at a tipping point: We can either become a first-tier clean-energy producer in the global green economy, or we can be a consumer of other countries' manufactured goods. We can lead or follow, produce or just assemble, innovate or be left behind. It's our choice."

In another op-ed, published in the Huffington Post, Apollo Board Chair Phil Angelides wrote, "A topic that should be high on the agenda at the [upcoming White House] jobs summit is what lawmakers can do to prevent jobs created by new U.S. policies and taxpayer investments from going overseas, which is exactly what is happening with thousands of new manufacturing jobs in the burgeoning clean energy economy." Check out the full op-ed at the Huffington Post.

For additional policy recommendations to address the U.S. clean energy competitiveness gap, see our recent article, Economic Development: The Missing Link in a National Clean Energy Policy.

Climate Policy Updates from the U.S. and Abroad

This week, with international climate change talks in Copenhagen fast approaching, President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao met to discuss climate change and other pressing international issues. After their meeting, they issued a joint statement about certain aspects of how the countries will approach climate change mitigation and the upcoming meeting in Copenhagen.

Although the statement did not commit either country to specific reductions in its greenhouse gas emissions, it did say that both countries agree that an "outcome at Copenhagen should include emission reduction targets of developed countries and nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries." Both countries also pledged to take significant action to mitigate climate change, consistent with their national circumstances.

The complete joint statement is available on the U.S. Embassy in Beijing's website.

Back in the United States, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate will wait until spring 2010 to take up comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. News reports attributed the delay to the fact that the Senate is currently focused on a healthcare reform bill and will likely also consider a job-creation and financial industry reform bill before it addresses clean energy and climate legislation.

Meanwhile, in the absence of comprehensive federal clean energy and climate measures, other government actors are moving forward with programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This week, the EPA held hearings on its proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. And in an article in the New York Times, David Leonhardt reported that White House officials are considering creating a "cash for caulkers" program that would pay homeowners for upgrading the energy efficiency of their homes.

In Other News ?

*Check out the new website Working for Green. It features short videos about people who are enhancing their lives—and ours—through green innovations and job creation. One video spotlights the creator of a "green box" made of recycled plastic that can be used in place of cardboard moving boxes.

*In our newest clean energy "signature story," the Apollo Alliance describes the Lost Creek Wind Farm, which will be the largest wind farm in Missouri. Lost Creek prioritizes the use of wind turbines whose parts are made domestically. The electrical transformers on the wind turbines are manufactured by workers represented by UAW Local 2379. Read the story, Lost Creek Wind Farm Turbines Made in the U.S.A.

*This week the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the recipients of its Green Capacity Building grants. These grants, which were authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are intended to build the green training capacity of current DOL grantees. Recipients included a wide diversity of groups, such as Arizona Women's Education and Employment, Inc., Urban League of Broward County, City of Peoria Workforce Development Department, and Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, among others. Click here for the full list of grantees.

You can keep track of the quickening pace of state and federal action on clean energy policy on our Apollo Blog and Daily Digest.

And how about joining us on Twitter?

Take care and talk to you again next week.

Yours,

Andrea Buffa
Senior Writer and Policy Associate
Apollo Alliance
buffa@apolloalliance.org