Friday, April 14, 2017

If Trump really wanted more good-paying jobs for Americans, he'd invest in renewable energy.

If Trump really wanted more good-paying jobs for Americans, he'd invest in renewable energy.
https://thinkprogress.org/soaring-demand-for-global-solar-53f11bcaa89e

10 comments:

  1. We're seeing the beginning of a social and economic change that will be more influential, in the near future, than the spread of the Internet.

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  2. Except for the fact that Exxon can't meter the sun.....

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  3. Qwerty Uiop Which is why the smart investors know that Exxon won't be around forever.

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  4. One of the bright sides of solar is that it's decentralized. Plenty of installation and maintenance work - but not too much - it's still cost-effective even with the work involved.

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  5. I am sure this is because of the climate change. The ozone layer has gotten thinner, which means more UV light. Using the climate change to our advantage is very clever, in multiple ways.

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  6. Does that amount of workers in US cover anyone who was paid to do an install? the quantity sounds way off the charts for as little use as we have. Would like more facts on the actual numbers of employed is all I am asking.

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  7. Does it rub you in the "wrong way", Stephen Russell​? No matter how you read the stats... they are... pretty awesome!

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  8. Patrik Hanson Thankfully, the ozone layer is getting stronger after banning CFCs and similar ozone-destroying chemicals. Which is good if you don't enjoy having skin cancers.

    The most efficient wavelengths for solar panels are in the blue/green area of the spectrum. However, the efficiency drops off very rapidly towards the purple end and even more so with UV. There is useful energy gathered even well into the IR end of the spectrum.

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  9. Stephen Russell Really, there are more people employed in the solar industry in California alone than every coal miner in the U.S.. While there are risks involved with working on roofs not one solar installer will slowly choke to death from black lung disease caused by coal dust. Most coal miners die that way.

    "By the end of 2015, that total number of solar workers in the state exceeded 75,000."
    latimes.com - California solar industry job growth reaches record levels

    "Nov 3, 2016 - The average number of employees at U.S. coal mines decreased 12.0% to 65,971 employees"
    https://www.eia.gov/coal/annual/

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  10. John Poteet Excellent comment.
    Coal mining is not very labour intensive these days. Most of it is done by machine, so coal is a very poor return on investment for jobs. Unlike solar, it seems:-)

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Now I'm doubly intrigued!

Now I'm doubly intrigued!