Follow Germany’s ‘green’ example

While America is dithering about the impact of environmental and energy legislation and planning, another country is actually dealing very positively with these issues and becoming a global “green” leader. In the last five years, Germany has developed a quarter million new jobs in renewable energy programs, including thousands of jobs in wind power.

The German “green culture” works through all levels of society, encouraging everyone to work together as a national team. Germany generates $240 billion in annual revenue from developing and exporting green technology.

President Obama says investment in a “green economy” can develop millions of jobs over the next decade. The population of Germany is about 80 million. Is it not possible for America, with a population of about 300 million and excellent technology, to do at least as well as Germany?

Robert A. Eberle 
Kansas City

Comments

[JoCo]

Wait, tho NMMNG. Are you saying the guys displaying bumper stickers that are taking the costruction jobs you tout, are the best at their trades thru well-established UNION appreticeships, and believe they are now helping "build" green--- are HYPOCRITES? Not regular old hypocrites, but F-ord-driv-ing hypocrites?

What bumper sticker would you givem?

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

JoCo you have to define greener. We HAVE BEEN going greener. WTF do you think AQCS is? Geez, coal fored plants capturing 99% or better CO2 and SO2, still not good enough. The questions is not can we go renewable but are consumers willing to reduce their consuption, is industry willing to reduce it's output and are consmers willing to pay the market price for the delivered utility? Why is it in "the last 8 years" we have increased our wind capacity by 400%? Obama attempts to take credit for that and he was not even in public office. What a chump.
Why people do not undertsand that wind power is not constant and does not capture 100% of the wind is beyond me. There are other renewables and we have been implementing them for quite some time. Some of them are geographical specific. The footprint for wind as an example is attrocious compared to coal. Where Obama figures there will be jobs created is a bit of fiction. I would bet that he can not name the scopes of work involved in a wind turbine erection project hence how can he determine it would "create" jobs? Many of the companies that erect these wind farms can not acquire enough labor as they need. Just because a job exists does not mean someone will go obtain that job. There are plenty of jobs as we speak. I would venture that one of the "Yes We Did" morons sitting at the poker table at the casino complaining about the economy, is not going to run out and apply for a job with Clipper, Siemens, GE Suzlon, Vestas, etc tomorrow. We could all go to wood burning stoves which are not green either. What about we stop purchasing ANY product that is manufactured. Stop buying tires, plastics, food (it causes pollution), stop breathing because we omit CO2, stop farting because that omits methane.
I will say it seems funny to see the following bumper stickers on a F-250 at a coal fired plant expansion:

Obama/Biden
Proud To Be Union
Go Green

Effing hypocrites.

[JoCo]

And NMMNG,

Just for counter-cranky: At least O dropped the initial "D" from his speech impediment. Lol.

[JoCo]

NMMNG,

Despite Obama, do YOU think we can go greener. If so, how?

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Joe 6 you obviously have never been to a wind farm project during the erection of the wind towers. These companies can not find enough people willing to work on these projects. This is a fact not an opinion.
These are skilled positions not mowing grass. I am sick of Obama claiming we have not invested in "green", we have, plenty.
The clown has never been on one efefing project so he needs to just stick to ambulance chasing and saying "uuuuuuh" every other word when he speaks.

[Moral City USA]

Sorry, JOCO, but dont kill the messenger. I didn't make it what it is.

"labor provided here....."

And how much of it will contribute to the GNP of Mexico?

[JoCo]

And these

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

labor provided here.....

[JoCo]

Joe,

Just queazy about the general turn of events for working people, but I do take solace in the sound of cognizant words like your own.

[JoCo]

Joe 6pack

Please shut up!

No seriously, just shut up. You are too astutely informed for my current post-dinner bloat.

Also, thanks for the informed opinion. I'll try not to plagiarize here, but no promise.

[Moral City USA]

Even the engineering for the 3 boilers was brought over from Japan to work here until the plants were online.

The engineering on that new KS plant will outsourced overseas too because our new governor did not stipulate otherwise. Probably get done in China.

[Moral City USA]

The reason we are behind on green is simple. Big energy lobbyist keep it that way. This is politically sustainable since the conservative right has been brainwashed (via political partisanship motivations only) to believe green is bad. That is really all that is holding it back is billigerent political partisanship....while the brainwashed masses aren't even getting anything for thier billigerence. The politicians are getting the lobby money.

Germany has a tremendous industrial base. They manufactures several lines of high end luxury cars and many pharmacueticals too. The Rhine River didn't get contaminated from breweries alone.

Wind power is already out there. Western KS has three large wind farms already in production. I dont recall it driving up the cost to you.

"One thing is for sure, there will be no boiler makers, pipefitters and a long list of other skilled trades working on wind turbines."

Yes, but they are now building a new coal fired plant right here in KS. And did you know that the biggest boiler makers are in Japan? I personally know the rep and he is providing 3 boilers to 3 new coal plants in AR, TX, and NE. All manufactured in Japan. We aren't getting local jobs from it anyway.

"The really hilarious part is that many of the turbine blades are made our of a carbon product!"

SO? We dont burn the blades. NMMNG, you hatred for lawyer is warping you senses.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

The really hilarious part is that many of the turbine blades are made our of a carbon product! Simple math, the clowns do not understand how to figure usage to output.
Just like so many think because deabeat politician/lawyers write hot checks and print fake money, they are somehow "stimulating". If they are going to put us in debt, just cut every taxpayer that is not on welfare or receiving extrotion payments, a check say for $50,000. We would see a huge impact as consumers spend and correct the market.
Politicians can not even waste money correctly. Go figure, the majority are deadbeat snob lawyers with.

[JoCo]

http://www.imotormag.co.uk/news/198517/geneva_preview_2009_seat_leon_altea_and_altea_xl_facelifts.html

A way to renew Spain's manufacturing employment

[Jazz-Man]

Going green just cost more money we don’t have. Put that money into some of the closing schools and hire teachers that are out of work. Plant more trees, make the freaken inmates do it. Stop expanding into every piece of land you see just because you can. STOP! Lol! Sorry I got a little angry.

[Kee]

Lets also follow Spain's example Robert where unemployment is at 18% and studies have shown that all the "green" (weenie) jobs have cost the loss of eight jobs particularly in the manufacturing sector.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Germany also has exorbitant taxation and their geographic size is small in comparison to the USA. Not to mention the difference in industrial base that we have.
I guess the common stiff does not even realize just how much wind power we have been implementing. One thing is for sure, there will be no boiler makers, pipefitters and a long list of other skilled trades working on wind turbines. The footprint for wind power is excessive for the amount of power that MIGHT be generated. Some people simply do not understand the sceince and technology of energy production and delivery. Are you willing to pay market rate for wind power? Wind power is not sustainable as a stand alone resource.
If yoou believe some harvard lawyer that ZERO experieince in the energy sector then we have bigger problems that people living at 130% of their income.