Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Clean-energy tech could add $155 billion/yr to economy by 2030

By Paul Dvorak | September 1, 2011

New wind power developments, such as quiet turbines fit for duty in cities like this one at Cleveland's Lincoln Electric, could boost the U.S. economy by more than $155 billion a year and create more than 1.1 million new jobs by 2030, says Google.

Breakthroughs in clean-energy technology could boost the U.S. economy by more than

$155 billion a year and create more than 1.1 million new jobs by 2030, Google says in a report. The study, by the internet search company’s philanthropic arm, examined the possible benefits of aggressive innovations in clean-power generation, grid-storage, electric vehicle and natural gas technologies.

“This project’s analysis suggests that breakthroughs in clean energy technologies could meaningfully improve the quality of our lives,” the report said. In addition to improving the economy, development of new energy technology would reduce U.S. household energy costs by $942 a year, lower oil consumption by more than 1.1 billion barrels a year and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 13% by 2030.

The analysis did not consider the best ways to drive innovation or attempt to predict what technologies would be developed. Breakthrough levels in the report were also highly

ambitious and “would be challenging to reach even with a much more concerted push on innovation than at present.” Google has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in solar, wind, and geothermal technologies to help make renewables cost competitive with coal.

In its report, Google found that the impact of clean energy breakthroughs would be enhanced if coupled with government policies such as a clean-energy standard and increased EPA regulations on coal or with a $30 a ton fee on carbon emitted

by the power-sector. The report added that government policies can magnify the benefits of technology breakthroughs by promoting cleaner energy sources over those with high emissions. Earlier this month, Google said it would finance a $280 million residential solar power project with SolarCity.

Google

Google.com


Filed Under: Construction, News
Tagged With: Clean-energy technology, SolarCity
 

About The Author

Paul Dvorak

Comments

  1. David Sefcik says

    September 2, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    VMT Technologies has a technology that will do just what the wind industry needs. Just as Google put it, “Google has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in solar, wind, and geothermal technologies to help make renewables cost competitive with coal.” VMT in their latest presentation has shown how their breakthrough technology will make wind cheaper then coal.
    VMT could really use some of Google’s funds to finish commercializing their gearbox technology. Unfortunately, getting a hold of the right person at Google isn’t easy. Hopefully someone will visit the website, http://www.moongears.com and realize this breakthrough technology is worth a closer look.

Related Articles Read More >

US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe