Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
How to create 25M jobs by decarbonizing the economy (fastcompany.com)
17 points by Glench on July 29, 2020 | hide | past | favorite | 3 comments



This is from Saul Griffith of Otherlab (https://www.otherlab.com/) who has detailed his comprehensive plan to decarbonize the US economy in several different reports but most recently the Rewiring America handbook: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/handbook

The bottom line is that by electrifying everything (transportation, HVAC, etc) at rates as fast as possible, we reduce total energy usage by 40-50% due to inherent efficiencies in electric. We also switch over all electric generation to solar and wind deployed massively and before the typical replacement cycle of fossil fuel infrastructure.


The thing I never quite understand about these claims is whether it is a net 25m jobs created or if an equal number of jobs will be lost in old fossil-based industries.

For example, if you decarbon the energy sector this presumably means coal and gas fired power stations will have to close and those employed there in turn are out of a job.


This should be the 'New Deal' of the 21st century.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2025 batch! Applications are open till May 13

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: