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Stimulate Energy Efficiency

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2009

Whether you're Uncle Sam or Auntie Em, everything you spend helps keep the economy moving.

That's not to say all expenditures are of equal value. In fact, some stimulus proposals being considered in Congress could even cause long-term damage if the cost of borrowing the money turns out to be greater than the return on the investment.

Much of what is being proposed as stimulus is little more than what politicians would want to do even without a recession. Democrats want more social spending, and Republicans want tax cuts.

The parties will never agree, which is why we need two major parties. But they should agree that firm, decisive action must be taken fast to help get the economy out of its tailspin.

Investing in programs that will save energy should be an easy compromise that will put people to work now and start paying off immediately in the form of lower energy bills.

"Energy efficiency itself creates jobs," says David Roland-Holst, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley. He explained to the Christian Science Monitor that when a household spends less on electricity, it can spend more on espresso drinks and haircuts.

Or, in the case of government, lower energy bills mean more services at less cost to taxpayers.

Hillsborough County has proposed several green-energy projects for possible funding through a federal stimulus bill.

A solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the courthouse, at a cost of $2.1 million, would pay for itself in 15 years. The system is made in Fort Lauderdale and would be installed by a local roofing company.

A similar solar system on a county warehouse on Falkenburg Road would cost $2.65 million and pay for itself in 17 years.

More efficient heating and cooling systems in county buildings, replacing leaky doors and windows, and installing solar hot water systems would cost $7.9 million and return the money in just 10 years.

County Administrator Pat Bean is smart to suggest these projects, along with more traditional ones, because governments ready to go will be first in line for federal money.

Weatherization grants for homeowners also make more economic sense than many of the ideas under discussion.

In the present economic climate, people are afraid to invest or spend. The main job of government at every level is to help restore confidence in the future.

That's quite a challenge with unemployment up in almost every metro area and still climbing. Tampa's jobless rate in December was 8.3 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year earlier. The rate hit 10 percent in Fort Myers and 10.1 percent in Ocala.

The government stimulus can't possibly provide jobs to tens of thousands of people out of work in these cities, but it can offer sparks of hope.

Outside of Fort Myers, for example, two brothers have planted a huge grove of jatropha trees, whose seeds produce oil that can make fuel for diesel engines.

A University of Florida researcher told Time magazine that in Florida's climate the bushy trees can yield 1,600 gallons of fuel per acre per year.

The implications of such a cash crop are economically exciting for farmers and for the Florida economy.

Promising biofuel experiments deserve the same public support as wind and solar projects.

Spending less on energy and keeping more of our money at home will help Florida and the nation break the recession's grip sooner. Projects yielding efficiency and energy independence should be high on everyone's stimulus list.

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