Clean Energy’s Going to Have Supply. Now We Need Demand.
January 15th, 2010 by Carolyn Parrs & Irv Weinberg , Mind Over Markets Recently, President Obama announced over $2.3 billion in Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States. These 183 projects in 43 states will generate more than 17,000 high quality clean energy jobs and the domestic manufacturing of numerous advanced clean tech solutions, services and products. And that is great news for all of us. But there’s another side of that coin that needs an equal amount of stimulus. And that’s demand. One of the oldest laws of economics is supply and demand. Neither one is good without the other. So Mr. President, now that you’re helping create supply, consider this a demand for funds and programs that will have consumers demanding clean tech and clean energy in the here and now.While it’s nice to hear phrases like clean coal, that’s not what we’re talking about because clean coal is a goal right now and not a reality. But that $2.3 billion sounds like it could produce some pretty exciting and effective products right here and right now that will create jobs, birth new industries, and give this nation economic and energy independence, not to mention clean air and skies.
American consumers are smart. They’ll know a good thing when the see and hear of it. We need your help to get the message out. What we in the green marketing world need to do is create messaging that presents just how good, sensible and necessary all these clean energy products will be. Help us get the word out. Now that oil prices are creeping north again, it just might be the perfect time to re-jolt the American consumer so they don’t go back to sleep and think everything’s just fine. Maybe some of that loot can be sent our way so we can wage a war on energy terror. Or the shock of high utility prices. Maybe we can use it to bring solar down to earth so it’s not perceived as appropriate only if you live off-the-grid. Maybe we can start to position wind energy as not just a lot of hot air. And maybe, just maybe, tidal energy can become a new wave. Nothing drives the market like consumer demand. Imagine how stimulating it can be to marry push-to-pull and have consumer interest pull these products into reality and wide usage because they want them. Ultimately, it really is that simple. As green marketers, we all know what it takes to bring products in from the fringes and make them standard. We’re ready to do our part. Currently, the airwaves are full of PSA’s promoting many worthy causes. Let’s add intelligent clean tech to the list. It seems to me that there is no more worthy cause than clearing the air, saving our water, preserving our forests, protecting our beaches, wild life and ailing oceans. And using the natural resources of the sun, the wind and others yet to come, to power our present and our future. There is no more intelligent use of financial resources than using it to fuel our future with industries that add value without depleting resources. And talk about ROI, not only will we become the world leader in eco-technology, we will create a revenue stream that will enrich us in many ways for generations to come. President Obama, email me at mindovermarkets.com. We need to talk. – Irv |
