Cleantech Notes

by Michael Dobson 

OUR CHALLENGE, OUR FUTURE

WE CHALLENGE YOU

 TO SHOW UP

IF YOU ARE A CLEAN TECHNOLOGY JOBS CREATOR!

Of all of the things that renewable energy entrepreneurs have done over the last few years, the one thing they desperately need to do is register to be a part of the upcoming Florida Cleantech Job Fair and Exhibition of Florida Cleantech Innovation. It is a FREPA Sunshine State Renewable Energy Expo series event.

I would not ordinarily list any single event as being so important, but this one is. 

Over the past few years lobbyist, businessmen and businesswomen have spent countless hours and countless dollars working to convince Florida lawmakers that (A) the clean technology and renewable energy industry in Florida is real, (B) if lawmakers are willing to dispense of the status quo and make new rules, this industry will quickly employ thousands of Floridians and make Florida a technology leader in the world, (C) if you build it with the right policies, they will come.. they meaning private investors, increased investments into Florida’s economy, more venture capitol interest,  and more companies being eager to relocate into Florida and (D) that open market renewable energy policy would change Florida’s image into a technology and innovation leader of the Southeastern United States. 

When all else has failed, industry supporters have tried to guilt lawmakers into it by placing the green jobs mantra side by side with the often repeated pro-business stated ideology of our conservative legislature. Cleantech supporters  have even tried to use the contrast of the latter point to highlight what is believed to be hypocrisies. Even that has not worked. The argument has (to a large degree) lacked the undeniable hard evidence of the potential or reality of such green jobs,or a cleantech future in Florida. The latter stated has held true for policymakers, although… report upon report indicate that solar technology in the U.S. is surely a growth industry. And, that in recent years, Florida has seen a significant increase in jobs from solar installations. Year after year, cleantech entrepreneurs have pointed to the prospect of new jobs as the overarching reason the policy and regulatory landscape should be shifted to better gird this particular industry. More importantly, we have tried to make the case that investments in clean tech must increase as well, as Florida lags behind. Boston is behind California   in Venture capitol funding while Florida is much further down the chain and not competitive.   But again, while we have threatened policymakers with the prospect that their decisions are stopping real jobs from being created and limiting the possibilty of more Venture Capitol (VC) funding flowing into Florida. We also have a duty to provide overtly tangible proof that those jobs exist and that our industry is real, alive and deserving of policymakers shifting their  political capitol our way. But, as reports about increases in the interest in clean technology companies and cleantech jobs go, they are never as persuasive as being able to have a decision maker touch and feel such data when the data comes alive. Written in the bill analysis from Senate Bill 238 which eliminates the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is an often mentioned 2008 article, published by the St. Pete Times, which reports that  the State of Florida spent $50 million of general revenue (pre - Obama stimulus) on renewable energy grants, in which,  the dollars spent did not produce one gallon of fuel. Then there is the recent fallout about Solyndra, a solar company that received over $500 million from the Federal Department of Energy (DOE) to later file for bankruptcy protection. And,  more recently Beacon Power Corp,  which is being called “another Solynda” has also asked for bankruptcy protection after receiving federal funds.

We know that once we dig down into the details of such headlines mentioned above, its never quite that simple and mostly the politics of the day. And,  on some occasions, the investments made has not been placed in any danger. For instance, in the case of Beacon Power Corp, the project receiving the federal dollars is one of many in a corporation with many divisons and/or  projects. Thus, the bankruptcy or restructuring of debt has no affect on the project receiving federal funds and the project continues on schedule. As in any restructuring, Chapter 11 bankruptcy  simply allows companies to restructure just as Chapter 13 allows families to restructure.  But, the headlines along (during this  period) is nearly a death nail in the coffin of renewable energy policy. These headlines are occurring when the gridlock in Washington has evolved into a vicious attack against renewable energy and clean technology innovation as wasteful and wistful. In Florida, while key leaders have said ” a comprehensive energy policy is a priority for the 2012 legislative session”, bills  such as HB 4001  are breezing through the system. The bill repeals a law which  (we could argue) is at the heart of the movement which placed clean energy in front of our collective conscious. That law is a legislative mandate (to be codified by the legislature) to have utilities reduce their greenhouse gas emmissions. On a macro level, the so called Cap-n-Trade policy while controversal, was indeed the catalyst for such a  movement within the states. Opponents were successful  in their efforts to label the policy as  an unwanted burden and a tax. The Obama administration received a political hit due to such success, seen in the midterm elections. As a result, his administration  has backed off of such policies or at least, they are not being pursued with the same vigor.  So, this writer  openly admits that cap-n-trade is close to dead in congress. In 2007-2009, the states acted on such policies because they felt  that they had to do so   if they were to have a say after congress passed federal legislation, given what they were hearing from Washington, It was their only way to maintan some control at the state level once it ( cap-n-trade) became the law of the land. So with the death of cap -n-trade in Washington, some states (with conservative legislatures)  are seizing the moment to repeal such laws. Once repealed, it would be nearly impossible to have the statutes placed on the books again. And  if anything, as long as such laws (although not codified) are  at least extended to remain on the books,  it makes greenhouse gas reduction (at least),  a consideration as we plan for future electricity production.

So, the  fact that these bills exist not only in Florida, but even in states like New Hampshire,  speaks volumes about current day energy policy priorities and its politics, for some legislatures.  But with unemployment at an all time high across the country and specifically in Florida, and that there is genuine agreement that America may have lost its way with regard to  innovation,   politicians want to arm themselves with solutions for job creation in the technology business space. Therefore, the idea of this industry being a major job creator is one that even the most cynical of decision makers must pay attention to. It  supersedes any doubts about cap-n-trade as a method for stifling the industry.  Jobs are jobs are jobs!! Not to mention, in recent years renewable and cleantech lobbyist, have in fact placed a lot of emphasis on the mantra of green jobs as a way of getting the attention of decision makers whom have made jobs the number one issue in 2012 elections.

So, we challenge you. If you are a renewable energy company, provide products or services in the  sustainability business space, export or manufacturer  energy efficiency technology or products, a solar installer or manufacturer, an engineer with a renewable energy practice, energy plant construction company,  participate in the training of students for green jobs or any other related jobs, help cleantech companies locate to Florida, are a energy researcher or other related business or organization  and you do not show up… then, perhaps it will be your fault if we cannot be in a position to provide jobs in the cleantech and green energy business space. If you exist, you must prove it. 

   Sign up today. This might be the last chance to prove that you exist!  

Michael Dobson, a third generation Floridian  is the Managing Member of Dobson, Craig and Associates a Tallahassee Florida based governmental relations firm specializing in energy policy, founder of Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association (and its related organizations) and  Freelance energy columnist