Opinion #17 - One step backwards?

Welcome everyone!

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government - Thomas Jefferson.

Last November I wrote a post talking about the uncertainty covering Mr. Trump's policies should he become POTUS. Well, he won the elections and he has started working on his promises, but probably not in the best manner.

Despite all the controversy, in which I do not want to opine, his last Executive Order reviewing the Clean Power Plan is one of those actions that I though could move the country backwards.

First, the dismantling of the CPP would increase the pollutions levels of the US in the medium/long term, thus increasing the health issues related to the pollution, which will have an impact not only in the federal and state budgets but also in the pocket of many individuals.

Second, the executive order is directed at a very little number of interested people, mainly coal miners, that want to hang to a profession that is updated and inefficient from an economic perspective. The statistics of Department of Energy shows that there are roughly 66,000 coal miners, whereas there are 3 million jobs related to clean energy.

Third, the sudden lack of will of the US to lead the world in clean energy, may compromise the obligations assumed in the Paris Agreement and threatened its success. Additionally, China will become the biggest country in terms of clean energy and regarding its innovation.

Fortunately, notwithstanding what the government does, the innovation spirit in the US and its companies will not be restrained. Companies will keep innovating, reducing the costs of clean energy production and dreaming about a better, cleaner future.

T

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