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Turning environmental values into priorities for Texas
President-elect Obama Ready to Put Americans to Work with Green Jobs - but Where is Texas?
Today, the president-elect gave an economic stimulus speech, laying out priorities for investment in the work of America. Our national partner, the national League of Conservation Voters applauded President-elect Obama's speech and noted:
"America's economy is ailing and the prognosis for the planet is dire. The cure for both these ills is a new clean energy future. Putting millions of people to work installing solar panels, producing wind turbines and making two million homes more efficient is just what the doctor ordered. President-elect Obama’s prescriptions will address the twin challenges of an ailing economy and the threat of global warming."
Indeed.
Texas companies are eyeing the prospect of a massive federal stimulus, hoping for tax breaks to encourage consumer spending and home building.
What could really be helpful is federal investment in the infrastructure needed for a green economy - the power grid and renewable energy generation, new transportation options that move folks away from gas guzzlers and toward more efficient cars running on improved roadways, or even non-car options like high speed rail, as is being suggested in other parts of the country, and - most importantly - help in creation of new, green jobs that will allow Texas to continue to be a world energy leader.
This session, TxDOT is up for sunset review. That means leaders in Austin have a chance to make changes to our state's transportation agency that result in prioritizing better forms of transit over more roads. Federal stimulus + new priorities for Texas = a solution that creates jobs, improves mobility and makes a big dent in Texas air quality problems caused by auto traffic jammed up on our highways.
"America's economy is ailing and the prognosis for the planet is dire. The cure for both these ills is a new clean energy future. Putting millions of people to work installing solar panels, producing wind turbines and making two million homes more efficient is just what the doctor ordered. President-elect Obama’s prescriptions will address the twin challenges of an ailing economy and the threat of global warming."
Indeed.
Texas companies are eyeing the prospect of a massive federal stimulus, hoping for tax breaks to encourage consumer spending and home building.
What could really be helpful is federal investment in the infrastructure needed for a green economy - the power grid and renewable energy generation, new transportation options that move folks away from gas guzzlers and toward more efficient cars running on improved roadways, or even non-car options like high speed rail, as is being suggested in other parts of the country, and - most importantly - help in creation of new, green jobs that will allow Texas to continue to be a world energy leader.
This session, TxDOT is up for sunset review. That means leaders in Austin have a chance to make changes to our state's transportation agency that result in prioritizing better forms of transit over more roads. Federal stimulus + new priorities for Texas = a solution that creates jobs, improves mobility and makes a big dent in Texas air quality problems caused by auto traffic jammed up on our highways.
Labels: federal stimulus, green economy, TxDOT
