Despite the construction of the largest solar plant in the United States that once had 300 plus employees, the DeSoto Solar Center in Florida now has only 2 full time jobs.  How is this possible with all the stimulus money flowing towards green jobs?

I read so much about the funding of green jobs as a way to jump start our economy and I truly believe that green can and will be a new beginning to our manufacturing base. This story, however, seems contrary to all the stimulus plans, since all the plants parts are manufactured abroad - in several different countries.   This seems so inefficient and un-green when you look at the whole life-cycle of product production.

I admire this administrations efforts towards sustainability and the creation of green jobs, but at this time they seem temporary as most of the funding is geared towards research and the start up of only a few companies. The fact remains that the only green jobs we hear of are paid by taxpayer subsidies and government mandates.  Will this change, or is this the only news we read?

The funding is commendable, but I would love to see significant subsides and business capital designed to guarantee market share towards more renewable energy especially in regard to wind and solar.  These energy options have short cycle sourcing and  product production with life cycles that begin in one country.  It would be great to see more green and clean jobs based on marketplace funding rather than taxes funding temporary green jobs.

Green Inc., the environmental blog run by the New York Times, ran an article yesterday covering the recent letter sent to Obama regarding climate legislation within the United States. The authors of the letter are Senate Democrats considered swing votes on the topic of climate change and energy policy, and they came with several demands.

The letter specified 10 requirements to be met before they will give their support, and comes at the perfect time for such an action. President Obama will be attending Copenhagen next week where he will hopefully show that the US is supportive of a binding international treaty. Kyoto was a missed opportunity which led to an agreement that is now about to run out, and without significant results.