South Coast Solar

As a U.S. Army Veteran I learned two valuable lessons:change happens rapidly and opportunity often exists where none seems possible. These are lessons, which I presently see playing out in all the conditions that are in place—right here and right now—in our state. However, I believe that not everyone is fully aware of the conditions that have created a “once in a generation opportunity” for a new Clean Energy Economy in Louisiana.

The first significant thing to note is that Louisiana’s clean energy sector is developing at a healthy clip and holds much promise. While this sector grew jobs at a rate of 19.5 percent,the overall Louisiana job creation rate grew only 3% between1998 and 2007. According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors,over the next three decades, continued growth in this sector could create more than 27,000 jobs in Baton Rouge and nearly5,000 jobs in Lafayette. The Political Economy Research Institute estimates that a $615 million dollar investment in clean energy in the New Orleans area could create 6,500 jobs, more than half of which would be available to people with a high school degree or less.

Developing a new clean energy economy here in Louisiana will not only help create sustainable home-grown jobs and new sources of locally generated energy, but it will also free us from the economic volatility and national security risks brought on by our harmful dependence on foreign oil.Although energy production has long provided good jobs and growth opportunities for Louisiana workers and companies, they have come with significant risks such as those which befall Louisiana workers who labor in dangerous and politically unstable countries, and the economic risk to Louisiana companies from uncertain markets as well as the foreign corporations who operate on an uneven playing field which usually comes without clearly defined rules.

Historically and currently much of our country’s energy policy is dictated by the demands of overseas suppliers and markets. Hundreds of billions of American dollars are spent annually on foreign oil: in 2008, America spent $1.2 billion every day; $50 million every hour; $837,000 every minute; and $14,000 every second on foreign oil. This dependence exposes our country to unnecessary and obvious risks such as the two wars that the U.S. is fighting on distant lands in an area of the world that requires extensive financial commitment. This comes with enormous personal sacrifice on behalf of our brave and honorable soldiers. Many of the countries we depend on for imported oil are under attack from both internal and external enemies that threaten this supply of oil as well as our companies, and our military personnel, just as much as they threaten the host country.

Now, with renewable energy technology right here in Louisiana, we have the ability to rapidly change this reality and put a stop to this madness with a new industry that takes advantage of energy efficiency technology and many of our abundant renewable resources – the sun, wind, and geothermal energy. One of the most positive of conditions that exists now is our state’s tremendously skilled workforce in energy production and services. New workers are being trained nearly every month. To date, the Department of Energy has invested $3.5 million dollars in clean energy training in Louisiana. Advanced training for contractors and installers in solar water heating took place just last month with Louisiana CleanTech at the Jefferson Technical College in Metairie. Even the students at Warren Easton Senior High are now learning about energy and environmental science by working with software and applications that monitor energy generated by the largest solar array in New Orleans located on the roof of their school.

More than 50 years ago, the offshore oil industry came into its own in Louisiana. Technical knowledge, manufacturing plants, shipyards, research and development, and engineering expertise were developed here and our products and intellectual expertise were exported throughout the world. Experts from all over the United States streamed into Louisiana to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to export offshore oil production to foreign countries. Once again, conditions are swiftly changing in our favor and Louisiana has the opportunity to reassume its position as a leader in the field of energy—only this time, if Louisiana residents and Americans lend their support and seize this moment, we can be leaders in clean energy. I urge Louisiana residents to contact their senators and congressional representatives and tell them to support strong clean energy legislation now.

Troy Von Otnott is Founder and President of South Coast Solar and Secretary of Louisiana CleanTech. A New Orleans native, Von Otnott served as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare Specialist for the U.S. Army during the closing days of the Cold War. He now works with governing bodies to create an environment to encourage the growth of a clean energy economy in Louisiana. He may be reached at troy@southcoastsolar.com or visit www.southcoastsolar.com.

View the full .PDF file :   Source: Natural Awakenings