The 2035 Project at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley published a report last week on how the country could transition to 90% renewable energy by 2035.
The report says that making this transition would add half a million jobs each year to the economy, and prevent 85,000 premature deaths by 2050, saving $1 trillion in health care costs. By keeping people from being sick, it would prevent an untold amount of pain and suffering, which can’t be measured in economic costs. Because so many fossil fuel power plants and refineries are located near communities of color and lower wealth communities, it would also improve health disparities and environmental injustices.
The report has specific policy recommendations for federal lawmakers, and other specific policy recommendations for state lawmakers and public utility commissions.
It is a real win-win-win situation – create jobs, save lives and prevent suffering, reduce health care costs, and fight climate change/prevent air pollution.
