“A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with, the wind.” — Lewis Mumford
I suppose we’re all aware of the current situation. A government freeze on energy efficiency regulations has been set. This stops current energy mandates, and prevents new ones from being enforced. For the moment.
What does this mean? Some people think it’s the end of progression in the sustainability field. The end of the green movement in businesses and across cities. I don’t think we need to be quite so dramatic. And, others agree.
The government does play a big part in financing energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. And, enforcing policies is sure to drive businesses to action. So, this means that if the Trump presidency does decide to ignore climate change and renewables, it could be a problem. But, not the end of the world.
We must remember the role individual states play. States can enforce their own energy policies, and some already have. California, Minnesota, and New York have made their sustainability ambitions known. So, maybe opposition won’t end us. Maybe it will be the key to success.
Rachel Krause, a professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration, thinks opposition will be the necessary driver. Cities could be energized by hostility to climate change. They could view their sustainability efforts as more important than ever. In an interview, Krause pointed out that in the early 2000s, cities adopted energy goals in protest of a lack of federal policy. It’s possible for history to repeat itself.
Forbes writer Micah Remley sees three other influencers that make it likely for energy efficiency to continue in 2017. At least for businesses. Firstly, energy prices will likely continue to increase. And that will pressure businesses to pursue energy efficiency as they seek to lower operating costs. Secondly, Remley anticipates that if prices for renewable energies drop, corporate demand for renewable energy will rise. So, thirdly, stakeholder demands for sustainability will intensify, and drive initiatives. I suggest taking a look at the full article for more info on each of these predictions.
The general consensus? Cities and businesses should continue setting benchmarks. And, continue budgeting for energy efficiency. Because, in the long run, the hope is that the government will see that it doesn’t make sense to drop sustainability and renewables. In fact, it’d be bad for business.
Liz Delaney with the Environmental Defense Fund wrote about how the government’s policy freeze is bad economically. A study they performed highlighted three key trends concerning sustainability jobs. First, sustainability jobs represent a growing workforce across sectors. Or, 4–4.5 million jobs in the U.S. Second, the nature of the jobs don’t lend themselves to outsourcing. And, these jobs typically have above-average wages. Last, these jobs are present in every state in America.
What does all that mean? It means we’re currently working with momentum for sustainability. And, it means that — if industries let it — these freezes could halt that momentum. Not only would it prevent enforced policies, but it could negatively impact the future of this large work force, Delaney says. But, it also means means that if we see how pivotal pursuing renewables is, the market would thrive. The workforce is already here and ready.
Things are definitely changing. But, they don’t have to be for the worst. Despite a freeze on energy policies, cities and businesses can continue to ride the momentum. They will set the stage for the year with the policies and benchmarks they choose to implement.
