Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
An added economic inducement that is strengthening the appeal of
wind power pertains to job creation. A number of studies have deter-
mined that the wind power provides far more jobs than conventional
energy technologies do, when compared on an equitable basis. he World
Resources Institute summarized comprehensive research by Wei, Patadia,
and Kammen to demonstrate the job creation beneits attributed to wind
power.
47
As Figure 1.10 illustrates, median estimates indicate that wind
power generates 21% more jobs than nuclear power and 55% more jobs
than both natural gas-ired power and coal-ired power.
he most important insight that the trends convey is that electricity sec-
tor market dynamics are changing due to international concerns over global
warming, the progressive narrowing of the cost diferential between fos-
sil fuel electricity generation and alternative generation sources, and the
enhanced job creation prospects attributed to wind power. From a policy
perspective, a transition away from fossil fuel electricity generation tech-
nologies presents new opportunities and new threats. Accordingly, the next
two sections examine the potential impact of such a transition on national
interests. Section 1.4 examines opportunities and threats from the perspec-
tive of industrialized nations, while Section 1.5 takes a developing nation
perspective. As will be demonstrated, after weighing the opportunities and
threats associated with such a transition, there is a strong argument to be
made for adopting aggressive policies to expedite such a transition.
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
Coal
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Wind
Operations, Maintenance & Fuel Processing
Construction, Installation & Manufacturing
Figure 1.10
. Job Beneits from Wind Power
Source
: World Resources Institute (2010).
