When companies like Google, AT&T, Verizon
begin to invest in smart energy meters for residential usage, can new
products and new jobs be far behind? Smart meters allow residential
customers to monitor their energy usage and make informed decisions
about their electrical use. Other companies such as Control 4 and Black and Decker want to enter the industry with energy monitor and control devices that do not need a broadband connection.
The Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit organization of citizens and scientists seeking environmental solutions, has a new report
that claims if a renewable energy standard of 25% by 2025, 297,000 jobs
would be created. If 25% is made a national standard, ( President Obama
has called for this) renewable energy would create more than three
times as many jobs as producing an equivalent amount of electricity
from fossil fuels according to the report. Many of the jobs would be
in manufacturing, construction, operations, maintenance, agriculture,
forestry, and other related industries. All of the industries will
need technical and non-technical employees to meet the challenge.
With 50 bills
in the legislature dealing with creating solar energy, Texas is aiming
to take the national lead and move ahead of California in amount of
energy generated by solar products. Are Texans willing to pay a little
bit more for solar energy? In a poll taken in 2007 by Baselice & Associates, before the economic slowdown, it was found that 81 percent of voters are willing to pay a dollar per month to
encourage those developments.
Electric car manufacturer Tesla has introduced the S model, a roomy sedan that goes from 0-60mph in under six seconds and can travel up 160 miles before needing a charge. Priced
at $49,000 (after federal tax credit), the S model is expected to be
available to consumers by the fourth quarter of 2011.