Sempra Energy Proposal Could Cost as Many as 15,000 U.S. “Green” Energy Jobs and $300 Million in Lost Tax Revenues
Editor: Did you know that Sempra Energy – the corporate master of SDG&E – has a plan to outsource “green” energy production to Mexico? Well, they do, and it’s a plan that could cost this state nearly 15,000 jobs – most of them from Imperial County – and a loss of close to $300 million in tax revenues.
by Cesar Diaz /California Federation of Labor / July 14, 2011
According to a recent report, Sempra Energy’s plan to offshore green energy production to Mexico would result in as many as 15,000 lost U.S. jobs and nearly $300 million in lost local, state and federal tax revenue. 90% of the direct job losses would occur in Imperial County, which had the highest unemployment rate in the nation as of April 2011 at 27.9%
The study, “Should Green Jobs Be Outsourced: A Case Study of Lost Jobs and Lost Opportunities,” was authored by Dr. Peter Philips, Professor of Economics at the University of Utah.
Philips:
There is a tradeoff between building renewable energy in California and building it in Mexico to import into California. In the case of Sempra’s proposed Energia Sierra Juarez transmission line, California and more specifically, Imperial County, loses.
Bob Balgenorth, President of the California State Building and Construction Trades Council:
This report confirms what we’ve known all along: Sempra’s plan is a job killer. This flawed proposal to import energy instead of building projects here undermines President Obama’s vision to create jobs. It is the wrong direction at a time when we should be building green energy projects in the state to put Californians back to work.
The California State Building and Construction Trades Council calls on Secretary Chu to just say no to Sempra’s plan to outsource American jobs.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 represents Imperial County, the area most threatened by Sempra’s proposal.
Local 569 Business Manager, Johnny Simpson:
With construction unemployment at its highest in a generation, we can’t afford to outsource even one construction job as Sempra is proposing to do.
Sempra Energy has asked the Department of Energy for a Presidential Permit to construct a cross-border transmission line, known as Energia Sierra Juarez, between Mexico and California to enable the company to import electricity into California from energy projects in Mexico. Energy Secretary Steven Chu will decide later this year whether or not to allow Sempra’s proposal to proceed.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hat tip to Dave Rice at The Reader.
Personal decision or a corporate one – exporting jobs to save a $buck$ is – “penny wise & pound foolish” – which seems to be the new American way.
tj i agree.but why work when you can have the goverment take care of you?we don’t need jobs,we need more goverment programs.
SDG&E is nearly finished w/ its Energy Innovation Center up in Clairemont on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. What is the message SDG&E is trying to convey to residents of San Diego? A brochure distributed by SDG&E states that the Center “Represent[s] a commitment to sustainability. . . a showcase facility that demonstrates smart energy initiatives and green building practices.” Apparently, in Sempra’s biz plan it preaches “smart energy” consumption in the States while outsourcing to Mexico for cheaper labor. This is just another move by a U.S. corporation to maximize profits at the expense of its home nation.
Perhaps the trans-border transmission line should be permitted & constructed; then tax the hell out of the electricity which originates in Mexico.