New Clean Air Act Rules Could Create 1.5 Million Jobs, Study Finds

February 11th, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

At the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference held in D.C. on Wednesday, green investment group Ceres announced the findings of a new study conducted at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), the essence of which is that two new Clean Air Act rules that are currently pending approval would create nearly 1.5 million jobs.

What are the two rules?

The rules are the “Clean Air Transport Rule,”and the “UtilityMACT” (or toxic pollutant rule).

The Clean Air Transport Rule “would reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to acid rain and smog.” And the UtilityMACT “would require industrial boilers to cut their hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, lead, and hydrochloric acid.”

Both of these rules, barring any wild Republican sabotaging, are expected to be finalized in 2011.

Economic Benefits Actually Underestimated

Although some jobs would be lost from the closing of old, excessively-polluting coal plants, the net job gains would be tremendous. Spread out over the course of five years, an average of over 290,000 year-round jobs would be created each year.

The authors were smart to note that the net job gains projected are only based on expected “capital investments in pollution controls and new generation and from coal plant retirements,” not from the clear economic benefits of “cleaner air, improved public health and increased competitiveness through innovative technologies.” So, in truth, it can be expected that even more jobs would be created by these regulations.

Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio are expected to gain the most from the proposed regulations.

Environmental Regulations Create Quality, Needed Jobs

Yes, once again, environmental regulations improve the economy and create jobs, no matter what fossil-fuel-bought politicians would like to have you believe.

“These are American jobs in manufacturing, installing and operating modern pollution control technology and producing clean energy – jobs that come at a crucial time as our nation’s economy continues to recover and grow,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, commented.

Some big industries may need to invest a bit more money into cleaner, more environmentally-friendly technologies, but the benefits for the nation are clearly considerable.

Photo Credit: Long Island Business News

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Tags: Ceres, Clean Air Act, Clean Air Transport Rule, EPA, Green Jobs National Conference, jobse, Utility MACT, UtilityMACT

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Jim213

Making companies pay for something just because the Feds changed the rules does create jobs if the companies decide to stay in the USA but it cuts into their profits . The companies then will have to lay people off to pay for the new Green Job ! Nice try obama but it won’t work.
- http://cleantechnica.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  These industries are sitting on boatloads of cash. And as we’ve let the country’s richest rake in more and more money on the backs (and health) of common citizens, they have not created jobs but hoarded more and more of the money.
  
  Your claim that they would lay off more people than are hired is unsubstantiated, and even utility companies will tell you that’s not true. In most cases, they don’t need to lay off anyone.
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g…

Curious. What are these 290k people going to be doing year round?
Also, who is going to be able to afford the more expensive energy these plants will produce?

You may balk at fossil fuels but the reality is they are a lot less expensive. For a business to be profitable, the energy costs must be such that they weigh into the competitive model.

I’m not in the fossil fuel business. I am in the construction business. There is a big push to use “green” materials. In most cases, only the govt projects I do can afford it. My private clients choose traditional materials because they are more affordable.
- http://www.zacharyshahan.com Zachary Shahan
  
  look in the report. the details of the jobs are in there..
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