The list of issues confronting the political classes' push to electrify more daily activities has run into several obstacles along the way. But if we look past the issues with materials, the rickety grid network, terrorism and the weather itself, what else could make the transition slower, and more costly, than advertised?
A shortage of electricians. The Wall Street Journal reports:
The scarcity is part of a nationwide labor shortage and most acute in the Northeast and California, where demand for green-energy products is highest, in part due to state incentives. Some economists expect the pinch to spread across the country as incentives from the new federal law known as the Inflation Reduction Act kick in.
The current total of more than 700,000 electricians in the U.S. is expected to grow about 7% over the next decade, slightly faster than the nationwide average of 5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The shift to renewable energy and the need to update electrical systems is expected to drive that growth. Some analysts say that expansion needs to be several times faster for the U.S. to meet its climate and electrification goals.
But as with any of the skilled trades, it's just not possible to pluck electricians off the street and put them to work. Apprenticeships are an answer, but is Gen Z listening? Not really:
The application rate for young people seeking technical jobs — like plumbing, building and electrical work — dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020…
Those numbers may change over time as pay for the trades rises. But again, that's over time – meaning it may take longer to get workers recruited, trained and on the job than the deadlines politicians set for electrifying this, that and the other thing.
The bottom line: a greener, renewable energy future is inevitable. But getting there will take more time, effort, money and mindset than the political class is willing to admit.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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nether does the baby boomers generation. Let’s tell the truth. I had an person come out to give me an estimate. The chem trails in the sky everyday. make the entire project useless. With 35% of the suns rays being blocked. I would need twice the panels. Then the bomb shell. The state I live in doesn’t offer subsidies.
so one reason the company would NOT do the job
Why should the states residences pay for my panels. Then if I did do the panels. The electric company doesn’t buy power from personal generation. The total cost of 43 panels and batteries would be over $100K the payback would never be reached before the panels would need to be replaced
No Jobs= No Energy
The Green New Deal people like AOC believe the technology will just magically appear, like in her cartoon. A cartoon character just decides to change jobs to manage a solar energy plant. Yep. They just arrive on their flying unicorn.
Right, pigs might fly. As articulate as AOC is, I’m afraid she must have flunked kindergarten. I pity the moronic and deluded electorate that keeps her and the likes of her in office.
The MSM don’t quote some of her more ridiculous things any more, but she still says fighting climate change means we have to invent things that haven’t been invented yet.
Green energy is just as big of a joke as those pushing it.