Clean Economy Now

"For anyone who wants to grasp the clean energy boom that's reshaping the economy, creating generational opportunity for American workers, and strengthening our hand in the climate fight, this is essential reading. In sharp and vivid prose, Keefe takes readers behind the headlines and onto the factory floors where a stunning bid--worth some $120 billion and counting--is playing out to get this country off the sidelines and into the forefront of the global quest for clean energy primacy.... In the skillful hands of Keefe, a seasoned journalist-turned-entrepreneurial advocate, we learn what's at stake for the country in the boldest economic play of our time--and the critical role of public policy in supporting it.... In a masterpiece of solid reporting that reads in places like a high-tech thriller, Keefe tracks the innovation and investment that's creating good-paying jobs, transforming the American economy into a clean energy dynamo, and strengthening the supply chain for the building blocks of a modern society. He has a gift for summing up the sweep of this epic shift.... In this compact and tightly written volume, Keefe delivers a tour d'horizon of a clean energy boom grounded in new, expanded, and reopened factories to build solar panels.... In addition to reporting on this new economy, Keefe introduces us to a cast of entrepreneurs, community leaders, electricians, assembly line workers, and others who see in their jobs not just a paycheck but also a purpose: to do their part to confront the climate crisis that threatens our future. More than simply echoing the optimism of others, Keefe brings to the story his own hopeful vision of a cleaner, more equitable, and more prosperous future for those who, like his three daughters, will inherit the world as we leave it.... If you've wondered whether U.S. manufacturers can compete with foreign rivals to build the solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and advanced batteries we need to break our dependence on fossil fuels, this book shows how and where we're doing exactly that. If you've ever thought politicians were spinning a false choice between economic growth and a sustainable future, this book lays that myth to rest, chapter and verse. And if you're exhausted by high-octane rhetoric and politically charged screeds, you'll be relieved by the scrupulously bipartisan focus Keefe brings to the opportunities fanning out across red states and blue."" -- ""NRDC blog"" From the foreword: As Bob Keefe details in Clean Economy NOW, we are on the cusp of a business revolution in America like we haven't seen in generations. We can lead the world in the most important economic transition in history. The only thing that can stop it is us. --Arnold Schwarzenegger, 38th Governor of California Federal and state clean energy policies are unlocking unprecedented economic opportunity for businesses across America and helping improve equity in the places most in need. Read this book and you'll understand how and what it all means to your company, your community, and our planet. --Ariel Fan, founder and CEO, GreenWealth Energy If you want to understand the once-in-a-generation opportunities of America's clean economy revolution, read this book. As author Bob Keefe lays out, businesses are leading the way, and the only thing that can stop us now is if we make the mistake of letting smart climate investments get caught in the crosshairs of our political and cultural wars. --Benji Backer, founder and president of the American Conservation Coalition and author, ""The Conservative Environmentalist"" In Clean Economy NOW, Bob Keefe masterfully illustrates what Milton Freidman told us decades ago: There is power in tapping free enterprise to solve our environmental challenges. Through his in-depth look at how American businesses are responding to the climate crisis, he shows that a healthy economy and a healthy environment can - and should - go hand-in-hand. --Bob Inglis, former US representative and executive director, republicEN The transition to a clean economy isn't about sacrifice. It's about creating jobs, saving money, keeping our kids healthy and our world safe. In Clean Economy NOW, Bob Keefe lays out how America has finally gotten on a path to a brighter tomorrow - and why it would be disastrous for us to turn back now. --Gina McCarthy, former U.S. EPA Administrator (2013-2017) To reduce the accelerating impacts of climate change, we must boldly shift to a Clean Economy - NOW. This is the book you need to read to understand the businesses, the policies, and the economic opportunity behind the clean energy revolution, and why companies, consumers - and our planet - can't afford for America to go backward again. --Manish Bapna, President and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council We're at the beginning of the business opportunity of a lifetime - and the best opportunity we have left to combat climate change, improve equity, and expand clean energy for all. To understand the connections between policy, economy, markets and trends, smart business leaders should read Clean Economy NOW. --Jon Carson, founder and managing partner, Trajectory Energy Partners; former Chief of Staff, White House Council on Environmental Quality [Keefe] surveys how corporate and legislative efforts to protect the environment are creating jobs, lowering consumer costs, and increasing corporate profits. In the private sector, Keefe details North Carolina company Trane Technologies's work developing robust heat pumps, explaining that the machines 'use electricity to gather heat, condition it with refrigerant, and move it around' in a process that is 'three to five times more efficient than traditional HVAC systems' and saves the 'average household about $500 a year.' Highlighting how lawmakers are advancing the 'clean economy revolution, ' Keefe lauds former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker for signing a 2022 law requiring the state to 'develop new offshore wind resources, ' which Baker believed would serve as long-term generators of jobs and economic growth. Keefe makes a convincing argument that public and private entities need to work in tandem to combat the climate crisis, pointing out that electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla owes at least some of its success to a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy. The emphasis on how clean energy benefits consumers, workers, and the economy offers a potent message for bridging political division around the issue. Keefe's insights will appeal to business leaders and climate activists alike. -- ""Publishers Weekly"""