Comments about ‘Clean fuels can create new jobs, study says’

A real economy and real jobs come from industry and manufacturing, not specialized services that have a limited life.

All business enterprises create jobs but not all are very good or dependable jobs you can invest your life with. The only real jobs will be created by forcing America's industry back on our own soil. To do this and keep industry from deserting america for cheap and slave labor is high import fees and taxes on foreign industry.

Our elected government has turned its back on america and our industries so we are what we are, a third world country producing nothing as we grow more dependent. The only industry we have left is government, government jobs, and socialism as the people become dependent subjects with no or low paying jobs. We are no longer a wealthy nation as Obama spouts off about to push socialized insurance. That is only the beginning of dependent subjects in the Obama world of socialism.

Our congress and government leadership are too well controlled by corporate and foreign manufacturing by american companies. If america reestablishes itself as an industrial country then we will have jobs and a better economy.

is that "for each job that would have been created in developing traditional power plants, nearly two jobs are created by developing efficient and renewable energy," What that means is that the "clean" energy will be significantly more expensive that the "traditional" energy. Additional jobs "created" by going to these forms of energy will be more than balanced by jobs lost in the much greater number of industries that will be harmed by more expensive energy.

Where does the money to pay for all these new jobs come from? Oh I know. Me.

By comparison if we opened one oil field in northern Alaska, it is estimated it would create 735,000 jobs in all 50 states.

We should do both.

Did anyone else notice who commissioned the study? It was a non-profit called Utah Clean Energy.

What did you expect them to say? "No, clean energy won't create any jobs and will lead us into an economic quagmire"? People see what they want to see through their rose-colored glasses.

The reality is somewhere in the middle. Yes, clean energy will create jobs (obviously), but for every job it creates, somewhere on the order of 10 will be lost from the "dirty" energy business.

"The study was commissioned by Utah Clean Energy"

Yeah, like THEY don't have an agenda that won't bias the findings of any report they publish.

From the study's Executive Summary:

"This study does not include an analysis of the impact to utility rates".

Our present energy system is abundant, reliable, and cheap. So-called clean energy is none of those, at least not yet, given clean energy's present state of technological development. If clean energy had any benefit over our present energy system, it wouldn't need huge subsidies and minimum portfolio standards. Take those away, and all reasons for using clean energy vanish.

Clean energy will raise utility rates, making Utah exports more expensive, which in a highly competitive global economy, will cost Utah jobs.

We need clean energy, clean air, clean water, clean land and energy independence. We also need to encourage energy efficiency and technologies such as ground source heat pumps.

We may not agree with each other re: Co2 cap/trade, taxes, or our effects on climate.

We do need more renewable energy. Coal is reportedly being removed fast enough in Utah that it could last only 15 to 45 years for use in Utah at current rates.

Many existing coal source locations could shut down soon, and we have increased risk of other mining collapses if they don't.

We will need more electricity to offset a reduction in the use of foreign oil, and we can't afford to just rely on coal.

How much oil and gas is untapped in Utah and can we get it without hurting our state treasures?

Do we have existing dams that we could add hydro power to, without putting more land underwater, hurting our rivers and/or wildlife?

What percentage of the energy we make should be exported? How close to a balance can we get?

It has been pointed out that renewable energy will help the state's economy in places that coal, or gas won't. Renewable energy being added to the mix will increase the life of the Utah coal economy.

Having goals to rely on renewable energy and energy savings to make up the increased demand on power is good.

I agree with your argument only as far as my MBA mind will allow. We are taught in business school to weigh only the costs and evaluate projects based on relatively short-term gain.

I may have an MBA but I'm also human which means I should be evaluating these kinds of decisions with non-tangible criteria as well. Even "clean" coal pollutes. Burning natural gas creates pollutants. Real clean engery should minimize or eliminate environmental damage. Since this cannot be quantified it is often ignored by politicians, energy companies and even voters.

The other issue involves global competition. Whether we like it or not, Germany, Denmark, Japan and increasingly China are investing heavily in renewable clean energy sources. Germany owns the solar energy sector. Catching up to other countries and regions will be challenging and the rewards of their leads in these areas will benefit them greatly.

We should be wary of indifference about this industry. Clean energy IS the future and we're losing ground in the race to bring it to market. A bit of investment now will pay great dividends in the future.

The air will be easier to breathe too!

Energy is like an irish pub