TOPIC 'Renewable Energy' on Jan 16, 2009 (CET)
Renewable Energy Forum Is Optimistic About The Future
A two-day session held in Washington, D.C., by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), offered much discussion on the issues of sustainable development, renewable energy, green jobs, the environment, and energy efficiency. Thomas Friedman, an author and New York Times columnist, said that “The next great industry will be Energy Technology (ET).” America has many entrepreneurs with a variety of ideas on how best to participate in renewable energy technologies. Until the present time, the problem has been the lack of support from the U.S. Government in entering that industry.
Some business executives are concerned with the global economic recession and the credit crunch that has been tightening its grip on consumers. They say that the current economic situation should temporarily place a hold on renewable energy industries. Others, however, and the majority of voices, are focusing on President-Elect Obama’s repeated commitment to Clean Energy. Obama is also concentrating on an extension of the investment tax credit for eight years, along with continuing to educate the population about the need to end our dependence on fossil fuels. He maintained the importance of “green jobs” throughout his election campaign as a way to “jump start” the economy and promote renewable energy technologies.
General Wesley Clark, recently retired from the U.S. military in 2004, is actively involved in pursuing renewable energy opportunities for the U.S. He is Chairman of the Board of Emergya Wind Technologies, a manufacturer of wind turbines in Little Rock, Arkansas. Retired General Clark has a lot of faith in the growing renewable energy market sector. He says it is “ready to burst with opportunity” and is just waiting for a change in U.S. Government policies.
Through all the recent economic turmoil, and in spite of the fact that some want to waiver from environmental goals, the overall consensus of world leaders and the global community has been to maintain the commitment to reduce greenhouse gases and move forward into the future. Renewable energy provides green jobs; green jobs provide the answers to the global economic problems.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
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