Bill Gates & Green Jobs = Great Future

“If you want to improve the situation of the poorest two billion on the planet, having the price of energy go down substantially is about the best thing you could do for them.”

Those are the words of billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates at a recent Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics forum. Mr. Gates warned that global warming could be a “disaster” for the global poor because it would make agricultural output in tropical areas “virtually impossible.”

Mr. Gates understands the importance of replacing fossil fuel power with energy from alternative sources, like nuclear.   He also understands that in order for energy generation to lead to economic development and improved quality of life for the “poorest two billion on the planet,” it must be both affordable and clean.

In an effort to incite innovation, Mr. Gates is calling for increased investment in research and development for clean power generation, including nuclear.  He says the goal should be to eliminate carbon emissions entirely in 75 years.  Mr. Gates has taken the lead in this mission by personally funding research for the development of “fourth-generation nuclear reactors.”

Bill Gates isn’t the only one acknowledging the role of nuclear power in promoting economic development and improving air quality worldwide.  A recent blog post by The New York Times (A Tally of Green Jobs) touted a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which showed an increase in the number of green jobs created over the last two years.  Nuclear energy was included in the BLS report as being a green jobs creator.

Like Bill Gates, New York AREA wants to improve the state of New York’s economy.  We advocate for affordable and reliable electricity that is safe and clean not just for New York, but for the planet.  We support continued research into non-polluting sources of energy and we look forward to Mr. Gates’ leadership in this area, and in improving the quality of life for all.