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Green Economy Is Growing

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 9, 2008

Jobs would be lost in the transition to a cleaner economy, but many new ones would be created.

Regardless of whether the results of carbon reduction lead to a cooler climate, the economy would benefit from homemade energy and energy-saving products created here.

We know carbon restrictions work, because tighter rules have lowered the per-capita emissions in California to half the nation's average. And we also know that if incentives are high enough, innovative solutions spring up like magic.

Consider Florida's new requirement for more renewable energy. Already Gulf Power is seeking bidders to sell it enough electricity from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, to power 200,000 homes.

That's an opportunity the private sector and other utilities won't ignore.

Many energy-saving solutions are already creating Florida jobs and Florida profits. Three innovators recently visited our office with a representative of the Environmental Defense Fund, which is making the point that protecting the environment is good for business.

Alternative Construction Technologies of Melbourne makes insulated structural panels that can cut a building's electric bill by 70 percent.

The panels cost about the same as conventional construction and a building made from them, its designers say, is virtually hurricane-proof.

Mosaic, in its fertilizer-making operation, is recycling heat to create enough electricity for 100,000 homes.

John Giliberti, of Indiantown, is enjoying rising demand for his company's electric and hybrid vehicles, which are mostly sold to airports and for other off-road applications.

Necessity and the prospect of profits clearly are the mothers of invention.

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