Environmental Protection is Big Business

With the high cost of oil, drilling in Alaska is constantly a topic for discussion. Democrats don't want drilling to occur there because of the fragile environment and possible contamination. Republicans do want to drill there because they promise it will cause prices to go down. A short term gain for a long term problem. This is just one example of environmental protection where Republicans claim that by saving or protecting the environment, that jobs will be lost.

I guess they never heard that necessity is the mother of invention. This energy crisis is spawning so many start-up businesses, laboratories, think tanks, energy companies, and other businesses that in the long run we'll have more jobs than ever. They might not pay quite as much as those fat oil barons make, but they are still good paying jobs none-the-less. The search for alternative energy sources is creating new businesses around the world. There are hundreds of new businesses just producing photovoltaic arrays to harness solar energy. This industry alone has businesses that experiment in new materials in which to create solar cells, businesses that mine the raw elements such as silicon needed for solar cells, businesses that manufacture the equipment, businesses that install the equipment, and other businesses that service the equipment. There are also specialists that design solar equipment to be aesthetically pleasing, architecturally consistent with its surroundings, and arranged to capture the most solar rays. Solar energy is becoming more efficient and cheaper and is destined to become a major energy source for homes and businesses. Though solar energy has not yet been proven viable for powering vehicles this is certainly another area with endless opportunities for researchers and manufacturers.

There are hundreds more businesses that specialize in manufacturing and selling tools and equipment used for environmental protection. For example, laws regulate how much particulate matter is allowed to be emitted from a smoke stack. In order to meet regulations, such busineses usually install scrubbers, filters, and other equipment. Dozens of businesses specialize in this type of equipment. Some businesses generate liquid and solid wastes as a byproduct of a manufacturing process. There are dozens more businesses that specialize in environmentally correct containers that allow safe disposal of such wastes without polluting the local environment and without allowing such wastes to seep into the groundwater from a landfill. Workers have to be protected from being exposed to harmful chemicals while working. There are many businesses that specialize in personal protective equipment such as particle masks, respirators, fireproof clothing, steel-toed shoes, metal gloves, contamination suits, and other clothing designed to protect people from exposure. Whole new lines of energy efficient appliances are being sold now and design, manufacture, sale, and repair of these items has created even more jobs (though we all know some of the manufacturing jobs are not in this country, unfortunately).

Then there is the business of recycling. Many will argue that this costs more money than it saves because you either have to transport your recyclables some place, costing you gas, or pay a service to pick them up from your house. This may be true, but really this is a small expense. (It happens to be free in our community.) And its only the tip of the iceburg. Standard recycling centers that handle paper, glass, aluminum, and scrap metal are providing jobs for people so those recyclers are providing a valuable service. Second the space saved in landfills saves city and county taxpayers money from not paying additional taxes for digging new disposal grounds. Third, recycling raw materials saves money in the production of those materials, especially aluminum. Estimates say that about 70% of aluminum in this country is recycled. Manufacturing aluminum from raw ore takes huge amounts of electricity. Remelting old cans only takes a small amount. This saves businesses that use aluminum for their products huge amounts of money, which keeps the price of those products to consumers lower. Recycling carboard and other paper has the same effect. Paper products are remanufactured for new paper products, saving the cost of cutting down trees and maintaining more tree farms. And their are many recycling related spin-off businesses. New businesses specialize in recycling a particular type of material into new products. In particular there are businesses that recycle things such as used motor oil, metal from circuit boards, mercury from batteries, and other materials and make them into new products that consumers can use. Landfill space is saved, hazardous toxins are not released into the environment, jobs are created, and consumers have more buying choices. Other businesses exist whose sole purpose is to shred documents, both for protection from identity theft but also to save landfill space.

Another side benefit that people forget about is ecotourism. Oil companies keep looking at certain areas in Utah for drilling for crude or to extract shale oil (fuel squeezed from compression of rock formations). The problem is that many of the desirable sites are in the middle of Utah's beautiful red rock country. Drilling in these areas would result in ecological destruction of a precious resource that can never been recovered. This landscape is so unique that it needs to be preserved not only for the flora and fauna but for future generations of visitors. Preserving these areas for visitors creates a huge tourism industry that can easily replace any jobs that would have been gained by erecting some oil rigs. Again, some of these jobs are not as well paying as what the oil industry might pay. But there are still dozens of spin-off businesses that can be fed by a well organized tourism campaign. Outfitters can guide tourists in the back country. Other tour guides can take people rafting in such areas as the Green River. Hotels, motels, gas stations, restaurants, gift shops, Native American crafts, grocery stores, and other local attractions all benefit from tourists. And depending on who is managing the protected land, such as the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Serivce, U.S. National Park Service, or a local or state entity, other jobs are created by these organizations to maintain roads and signs, enforce laws, maintain offices, interface with the public, generate informational materials, develop nature tours and talks, etc. Since these are government jobs they will pay well.

And let us not forget the hundreds of consultant firms that have sprung up that lend their expertise in studying environmental impacts. Industrial Hygienists tell us how to protect ourselves in the work place. Environmental Protection specialists show us how to avoid releasing toxins into the air, water, and ground. Hazmat and Radcon specialists show us how to protect ourselves and the environment from hazardous chemical spills and what to do if we were exposed. Other professionals specialize in the health arena, studying long term effects of people who may been exposed to substances such as asbestos and beryllium. Engineering consultants help design equipment and buildings so your manufacturing process doesn't harm the environment from the very moment you turn on the switch. Other businesses specialize in assisting a business or a whole city in developing waste management plans to dispose of their waste safely. There are other businesses that specialize in cleaning up a waste problem that has already occurred. For example, past mining practices have polluted groundwater and destroyed habitat; companies specialize in cleaning up these areas and restoring the landscape as close to its natural state as possible.

I could go on and on with examples where environmental consciousness has spawned new opportunities. It's time to move forward with renewable energy, worker protection, safe disposal, groundwater protection, habitat protection, resource conservation, and environmental reclamation. The future is ours.