A green economy is a job-friendly economy and accounts for more jobs than a fossil fuel based economy. Dollar for dollar, investments in conservation, renewable energy and other sustainable strategies produce far more stable, living wage jobs and more economic opportunity than investments in the polluting industries of the past. Doubling down on fossil fuel infrastructure puts our city at financial risk for stranded assets, staggering health costs and clean-up costs in the event of a rail, pipeline or refinery disaster such as we have seen in other cities and towns. We have already had several alarming near-misses with derailed trains and refinery accidents, including a deadly accident in March, 2015.

• Sizing the Clean Economy: A National & Regional Green Jobs Assessment
• Switching to a green economy could mean millions of jobs, says UN
• Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs & Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy
• And just to set the record straight, here’s a study comparing Oil & Gas Jobs vs Clean Energy Jobs
• Fortunately, we have all the technology needed to convert to a sustainable economy without sacrificing jobs and opportunity.  It seems transitioning to renewable energy would offer a net savings. And that a clean energy future is possible.
• Even our Doctors are advising that we need to transition to clean energy and reduce our emissions, right after eating that apple and flossing teeth!

If you still believe the Jobs myth touted by the oil & gas industry, read on…

• Forbes Magazine writes about The popping of the Shale Gas Bubble and explains stranded assets in High Oil Prices are no defense against risk of stranded assets.
• A New York Times study shows that the hidden cost of Fossil Fuels is in the Billions.
• Alternet writes that 2013 was a record year for oil-train accidents, and insurers are wary
• If you’ve ever wondered how safe are America’s 2.5 million miles of pipelines, read this Propublica piece.
• Fossil Fuels: A Legacy of Disaster – We need to move to safer energy sources

And for a more local perspective…

• Our local PennEnvironment write that Oil trains put over 3.9 million PA residents living in the evacuation zone at risk for disaster.
• A Petaled Rose of Hell: Refineries, Fire Risk, And the new geography of oil in Philadelphia’s Tidewater
• Philadelphia and the “Bomb Trains”
• Operational Issue at South Philly Refinery causes black smoke to rise
• Worker dies in accident at Sunoco’s Delaware County refinery

At what cost jobs?