This guy must be a disciple of Greenspan...
Looks like they think we can "idea" this nation to prosperity.
Posted on 01/22/2011 10:05:53 AM PST by Graybeard58
"Green energy jobs are the jobs of the future, and will help to propel our nation and our economy forward."
— Rep. Rosa DeLauro,~CT.~ D-3rd District, June 15, 2010
Then again, maybe not. Folks in Massachusetts are in a lather about the recent conduct of Evergreen Solar Inc., which disclosed this week it will put 800 employees on the dole and shutter its factory in Devens. The Bay State, where politicians are guided by the same fantasies Rep. DeLauro articulated in her June 2010 remarks, has funneled an estimated $58 million into Evergreen for the express purpose of creating jobs, as well as establishing Massachusetts as a green-energy hub.
In truth, Evergreen's management behaved the way profit-minded corporate leaders should. Apparently staying within the law, they relied on Greater Boston's vigorous scientific and entrepreneurial community to develop solar technology that approaches competitiveness. They also knew they could count on Massachusetts' liberal, green-energy-loving political establishment to keep them flush with cash. Then, when they had made sure their breakthrough "string-ribbon" technology worked, they looked to China for the cheap labor, energy, taxes and land costs, as well as soft environmental regulations, they needed to produce solar cells profitably.
The lesson here is that green energy is operating at such minuscule margins, those in the industry must lean on government relentlessly and without remorse for baseline funding, then resettle to China or a Third World venue to manufacture their innovations. It is not right or wrong; it's the reality of the business.
Many in the Massachusetts political community and media are nevertheless outraged. The Wall Street Journal weighed in with an unusually tough editorial Tuesday, "Solar Power Eclipse," which noted: "Like President Obama, (Gov. Deval) Patrick has advertised the illusion that governments can nurture new companies, even whole new industries, with targeted taxpayer 'investments.' This is the entire premise of the 'clean energy' industry, most of which wouldn't exist without subsidies because it can't compete on a market basis."
Writing in Tuesday's New York Times, Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser acknowledged "public officials are rarely skilled venture capitalists and ... governments pursue many objectives that lead them away from solid investments." He expressed more sympathy for Evergreen's tactics but was no less pessimistic than the Journal was about the future of "green jobs" in the United States.
"It was always a mistake," he wrote, "to think that clean energy was going to be a jobs bonanza." He believes public investment in innovations like string-ribbon technology is wise even if it fails to create many jobs: "Massachusetts' edge lies in ideas, not products. ... The only production that really needs to occur in Greater Boston is the early-stage manufacturing that can be an important part of the research process. Mature companies, like Evergreen Solar, naturally move their factories to lower-cost areas." Doesn't that sound a little like Pratt & Whitney?
The lesson from the Evergreen controversy really is twofold.
The "green-jobs" rhetoric was never more than a bait-and-switch scheme by politicians out to establish street cred among environmentalists while subsidizing elements of the business community — which could be counted on to send some of it back in the form of laundered campaign contributions.
When politicians play favorites in the business community, taxpayers lose. This is no less true in Connecticut than it is in Massachusetts.
Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.
If you want on or off this ping list, let me know.
yuk, yuk!
enviro states think themselves so superior.
I nominate Willie Green’s ligt rail/high speed rail for #3.
Madoff sits in jail while these scam artist politicians and thier criminal gangs create thier own ponzi scams, globalwarming, green jobs, cap and trade carbon credits.
You forgot one other con job:
3. Obama
(also related)
You forgot one other con job:
3. Obama
(also related)
This guy must be a disciple of Greenspan...
Looks like they think we can "idea" this nation to prosperity.
Various Southern states gave millions in subsidies to Toyota and Nissan to set up factories there and create jobs. There was a similar understanding here that green jobs would be created. These green capitalists reneged on that understanding and reneged on agreements with Massachusetts that will cost them millions but far from the amount of subsides they got from the state government. These green capitalists got a sweet heart deal from Massachusetts
This development is good in that states and cities (hopefully) will not be bestowing millions in subsidies to green bullshit artists.
We had a flexible solar manufacturer interested in locating here. The process needed tons of water and was very dirty on the environment.
What’s string-ribbon technology? Let’s stop this “green” jobs garbage Obama’s always yammering about and start drilling for oil in the Gulf again. It cost me $14.50 for a quarter of a tank of gas yesterday.
Was any of this in writing? If so it seems to me that Mass. could do something about it. Perhaps at least recover their tax payer's "investment".
Odumbo administration is going to change that fer ya. They'll see to it that you pay that much per gallon.
I didn’t forget. I only listed two. But perhaps you are correct and before it’s all over, Obama will move to position 1 on the list. If I were a betting man, I’d take that bet. Stayed tuned.
These green capitalists got about 57 million in subsidies from Massachusetts. Massachusetts is trying to recover 7-15 million at the most because of the idiotic contract that as negotiated
I am a physicist retrained as an engineer so I'm as big on thinking and ideas and innovating as anybody, but it seems to me you can think all you want but eventually someone has to build something or make something if there is going to be any kind of broad-based economic growth. We simply have too diverse a workforce and population, and not everyone will be suited to brain-work. We'll need to employ people with a wide range of capabilities and backgrounds to have sustainable economic growth. Ideas alone won't cut it.
Yes there is a difference...At least those state subsidized (given tax breaks etc) Toyota and Nissan factories turn out useful real world products
I think most of the above subsides have expired
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