An American Green Hero…Van Jones in Seattle!

May 27, 2010

Van Jones did not disappoint as the keynote at the Climate Solutions 2nd Annual Fundraiser breakfast in Seattle this morning. He evoked the oil spill disaster in the Gulf as a learning opportunity and catalyst for moving us away from fossil fuels and towards a national climate policy. Jones stated that we are now paying the price on the back-end for fuels that are cheap at the front end. The fact is that we pay artificially low prices for our energy, as industry has been “allowed” to pollute our environment without a penalty, thereby subsidizing the real cost of fossil energy production. With a cap-and-trade or a carbon tax policy, he argues, we would begin to pay the “real” price for these resources and presumably change our behaviors as a result.

In addition to climate benefits, Jones is focused on economic development. As a co-founder of Green Jobs For All, he reminded us that we could build wind turbines in Detroit utilizing the smart talent already available with great skills developed in the automotive industry. He sees green jobs not only in economic terms but also in social dividends paid to undirected youth. He states, “Let’s have kids put down handguns and pick up caulking guns, instead.”

Jones sang the praises of our Seattle green culture, leadership, and applauded our use of governmental financial resources as part of the Recovery Act to help fund a better tomorrow. Paying for residential energy efficiency can lower energy demand and waste, create (green) jobs and enhance the health of our communities, as less pollution means improved health, as in lower asthma rates.

Van also sees how the Northwest is deploying new charging station infrastructure to support a move toward electric cars. The Honorable Dow Constantine, King County Executive, provided the opening remarks, including a reference to his own anticipation over the pending delivery of his all-electric Nissan “Leaf.”

While Jones sees the Northwest as committed to greener culture and driving eco-innovation, he views our leadership role as one where we cannot get complacent but must push through any cynicism if the planet as a whole has a fighting chance.

While most people would find it incredibly hard to follow in the footsteps of a Van Jones speech, Martha Kongsgaard of Puget Sound Partnership was an outstanding “closer.” She literally sang a call-to-action tune encouraging us to get out our checkbooks to help Climate Solutions on their mission.

Checks are necessary in supporting the great works of Climate Solutions but additionally please share with our readers how the disaster in the Gulf has informed or altered your views or driven you to make a positive change.

Van Jones, you are inspiring as one of North America’s Green Heroes!
–alex

Filed under: clean tech,Energy efficiency,general musings,green jobs,green marketing

Tags: #vaninseattle, climate solutions, green for all, green jobs, new economy, van jones