An argument oft repeated is whether renewable energy will create new jobs. From the simple premise of any change bringing in new requirements, and hence jobs, but at the cost of earlier existing jobs, it is an impasse.
For instance, taking people off cars into mass transit will create jobs, but what of those who will lose jobs? But who? Those working in the petroleum industry, of course!
Or take the process of retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency - won't that employ many times more people than will be lost in producing the electricity?
Of course, in installing PV, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass facilities, nations will have to employ more people than will be lost from the ranks of the traditional sources of energy. But, what happens when all this stuff is installed and operational?
After all, renewable energy is about technology and every innovation in clean energy and transportation will add jobs. But being about technology, and given that technology has a tendency to displace human labor, what then??
Perhaps, it is the wrong argument to be having in the first place. Renewable energy must primarily be adopted for the clean tag it brings, as well as off-setting climate change, besides being abundant. Right?
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