While editing an in-depth article on Arizona solar energy this week, this line caught my attention: “With over 375 solar companies serving the value chain in Arizona, there are more than 6,900 people employed in the state’s solar market.” 6,900 jobs in a state like Arizona is a big deal, and the solar industry is just getting started!
Donald Trump may (or may not) be good at negotiating in the business world, but he is a novice to international diplomacy and policymaking. It’s not just about bluffing or not in order to earn more money — international relations at this high level are about nuanced alliances, honor, and stability.
This is not a foreign policy blog, but it’s worth noting that cleantech is indeed the critical solution to two of the largest foreign policy issues in the history of the United States — oil dependency and climate change.
The election of 2016 was about anger, if you believe everything you read. More than anything else, we are told the American people are angry because globalization took all the manufacturing jobs that were once so abundant in the US and exported them to places like Mexico, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
As one of the sunniest states in the US, Arizona has enjoyed early and great success as a leader in solar energy production. With 2,453 megawatts (MW) of solar installed, the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks Arizona as #2 for total installed solar capacity.
If Democrats, Greens, and Independents are disgusted at the result of the election, and super fearful of what is to come, that could lead to an unprecedented progressive movement. Donald Trump could have been a gift that indirectly produces more good than harm. But that means three things:
One of the key differences between Clinton and Trump was their stances on climate change. Clinton had a strong plan to continue the USA’s leadership position, and Trump disputes its existence. However, a Trump presidency isn’t a disaster for climate action globally or in the US. In fact, he might actually reduce US emissions, however unintentionally.
The US presidential election is over. I know many of you are waiting for my initial comments on what this means for cleantech. Donald Trump’s candidacy has been so devoid of specific policy proposals, he has flip-flopped so many times on a large variety of issues, and he has so little (er … no) experience in government, that this question is more up in the air than not. Nonetheless, I will present several documented facts, some probabilities, and some pure speculation in the article below.
One of the background factors related to German auto manufacturer inaction with regard to electric vehicles, a factor that isn’t often publicly acknowledged, is that if the companies in question did make a rapid transition to electric vehicles, then there would be huge layoffs as many jobs and core skills became unnecessary.
Actor Mark Ruffalo is using his notoriety to support the Native Americans who are protesting the Dakota Access pipeline. Ruffalo co-founded The Solutions Project, a company that promotes renewable energy for all. On its website, its mission statement says, “Together we can build a stronger economy, healthier families, and a more secure future. 100% clean is 100% possible. Join us.”
