How Congress Can Fix the Economy with Green Jobs

You've probably heard about Bush’s $145 billion economic stimulus package by now -- and that it hasn’t done a thing to inject optimism in the world's sagging financial markets. No wonder. As is, it’s just another tax cut for the richest Americans.

And while it may deliver a quick fix for a short-term recession, it will do nothing to build jobs and long-term prosperity in America.

That is unless Congress earmarks a a portion of the stimulus to clean energy. The effects of which would ripple through the economy with far more vigor than your average tax cut.

That's the exact message being sent to Washington from a growing number of influential supporters. In essence (paraphrased):

Dear Congress, Resist the "Hail Mary" pass to save the markets. Think long-term. Include a clean energy stimulus in the emergency bill, and watch the seeds you sow repay themselves. You'll rev up the economy by stimulating the creation of hundreds of thousands of new "green collar" jobs. You'll build the foundation of real economic growth in America.

(You can send your own letter straight to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid right here, courtesy of the Breakthrough Institute.)

Here are a few ways the clean energy stimulus could work, from Michael Schellenberger, president of the Breakthrough Institute:

If done right, clean energy investments will do more than "stimulate" – they'll grow the economy in the short and long-term.

How could it be done?

There are at least three ways: First, significant tax credits could be given to electric vehicles, hybrids, and other highly efficient cars.... Second, some of the stimulus should be used to effectively lend home and business owners the money to finance the installation of solar systems and energy efficiency measures that result in lower energy costs and, as importantly, create good installation, insulation, and electrician jobs that will stimulate the economy...Third, some of the stimulus should be used to invest in the infrastructure needed to build the clean energy economy.

Congress is clearly in a rush to save the economy. Understandable. But why not shoot for the biggest bang for the buck? Add clean energy as a stimulus and begin to save Americans from a whole lot more than a short-term recession.

Think climate change. Fossil fuel addiction. The eight years of unsound economic policy that has triggered a growing mistrust of the US from the global markets.

Congress, please, buck up on clean energy, and help us engineer a new era of hope in America.

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