Jerry Brown Unveils Plan for 500,000 Green Jobs, Czar

[Ed Barrow]

Source: earth2tech

California gubernatorial hopeful Jerry Brown unveiled a green jobs plan today that he says will create a half a million green jobs and will appoint a “Renewable Energy Jobs Czar.” Brown, who officially kicked off a heated race for California governor against former eBay CEO Meg Whitman at solar module maker Solaria last week, made the remarks at a meeting of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group on the Microsoft campus in Mountain View, Calif.

Brown called for an investment to create 20,000 MW of clean power along with investments in energy efficiency technology by 2020 that he says will create 500,000 green jobs. Brown’s plan includes building 12,000 MW of distributed solar photovoltaics, and 8,000 MW of large scale solar thermal, along with the necessary transmission lines to connect solar thermal to consumers that would use it. Brown also said he wants to reduce the permitting time that it takes to get transmissions lines built for clean power. “I can remove the red tape,” that is holding back the construction of transmission lines, Brown said.

Brown’s plan will also focus on developing energy storage, building efficiency, adopting stronger appliance efficiency standards, developing more co-generation and combined heat and power. Finally Brown says he will appoint a “Renewable Energy Jobs Czar,” who will be “responsible for ensuring that all energy job goals and deadlines are met.”

“California is already responsible for 60 percent of the venture capital that is creating green jobs,” said Brown, and he said the backbone of his plan is “honesty, frugality, and innovation.” We can’t reach our goals on the current track, and we need a goal of 20,000 MW of clean power to create these green jobs, said Brown.


Read more: http://earth2tech.com/2010/06/15/jerry-brown-unveils-plan-for-500000-green-jobs-czar/

[polichick]

1. Nice! Maybe Meg will fight for drilling off California's coast. nt

[KansDem]

2. Careful, Jerry! Meg may try to shove you out of the way!

I believe that's her management style...

[Maat]

5. But then he gets $200,000 for his campaign ...

... although he probably won't get it soon enough.

Go, Jerry!

:hippie:

[XemaSab]

3. I am of two minds on this

Part of me does want to see transmission lines streamlined, but part of me is apprehensive about removing citizen participation from the process. :shrug:

[crikkett]

11. Huh?

Can you please explain how citizens participate in this now?

[XemaSab]

12. Currently transmission lines are subject to full analysis under the

California Environmental Quality Act. This is a lengthy process that involves a complete analysis of potential impacts to wetlands, endangered species, cultural resources, land use, and so forth. This process can take years, and citizens are encouraged to participate in every phase. Because nobody wants a high tension tower in the back yard, these projects can be very controversial, and they are often stonewalled or shut down by local opposition.

Any streamlining of the process would cut out the level of analysis and the opportunities for citizens to mount a strong opposition.

[hollowdweller]

13. I hear you. I have a power line running across the back of my land.

They spray herbicides on it. They cleared it with a crew last year and cut a huge oak probably 2' diameter. I know that they have cleared it by hand before and there was no reason for them to whack an old tree that they had passed over before.

Then they just left it lay so it totally obstructed my hiking path that ran thru it.

Also the access roada allow atv's to get back there and toss garbage out.

I'm all for green jobs. I really am. But I really have a problem with pipelines and transmission lines.

Why should rural dwellers have to have their land screwed up with lines, their skies full of particulate from power plants and their water ruined by mining only to have the indignities they experience only used to create jobs and prosperity in some other area.

I think there should be some law that allows power only to be shipped so far. I guarantee you that if people had to personally experience the downside of the energy they need that would to more to encourage green energy than anything.

[XemaSab]

15. I agree with you

Power generation should be local, and the impacts should be local.

[crikkett]

17. thanks for explaining. n/t

[AngryAmish]

4. Green jobs is why Spain is such a powerhouse today.

We have much to learn from Spain.

We need high speed rail, too. Everyone loves choo-choos.

[Ramulux]

6. This is great

All Meg has been talking about recently is how Jerry hasn't presented any specific policy proposals. That line of attack is pretty much done. Its going to be funny watching her try to come up with any sort of plan that can rival this one.

[KamaAina]

7. Jerry 500,000, Meg-abuck$ 0

:bounce:

[avaistheone1]

8. k&r

Go Jerry!!

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

9. that is my candidate thinking, planning, etc.

as to be expected.

Welcome back Governor Brown! :D

:kick: & recommend.

[wordpix]

10. oooh, Jerry's pressing buttons with the "czar" word ---Go, Jerry!

:woohoo:

[lunatica]

14. Out of the gate with policies and plans ready to go!

I love Jerry Brown! California will see good days again.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Moonbeam becomes Sunbeam?