Tennessee examines impact of government on solar market

The University of Tennessee's Baker Center for Public Policy analyzed the impacts of the solar industry in the U.S. According to their analysis, a domestic solar market could produce anywhere between 240,000 and 965,000 direct or indirect jobs by 2030. Including an export business in that model could add up to 67,700 more jobs to that estimate. Read the full paper online here.  

An interesting point brought up by the researchers at the Baker Center, is the similarities between the solar energy trajectory and that of more traditional energy sources, like oil, gas or coal. The much politicized incentives to encourage innovation and early adoption of clean energy are no different than the market control measures for oil, and pipeline development for natural gas distribution. In fact, even though oil, gas and coal, by no means in early stages and so are considered mature sources, are still receiving subsidies and government assistance. This is an important similarity that is often conveniently left out of the solar vs. traditional energy debate. 

Along this same theme, the Baker Center hosted former New Jersey Governor, and former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Christine Todd Whitman to discuss the impact of partisanship on climate policy. The event titled, The Need for Climate Change in Washington: How Hyper-Partisanship has paralyzed Policymaking" can be watched online here.