How Broadband Will Benefit a Green Economy

The Blue Green Alliance (BGA) in coordination with its members, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released an updated version of its landmark 2010 report “Networking the GreenEconomy,” urging policy makers to create an environment that allows for long term public and private investment in high-speed broadband to build more sustainable communities in rural and urban America.

The 2011 report, available at http://speedmatters.org/greeneconomy, specifically identifies policies supporting the development and use of Smart Grid and Smart Building technologies, including expansion of Smart Meters and other demand-side energy management methods as well. The updated study also identifies the need for strong consumer and labor protections to ensure that all Americans have access to cost-effective and climate-friendly technologies.

"Investing in the expansion of broadband Internet is a critical element to addressing the nation's unemployment crisis," said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. "Ensuring broadband Internet access across the country will create jobs, will reduce pollution, and will make America's economy cleaner, more efficient and more competitive in the 21st century."

“Policies that promote the expansion of broadband infrastructure will help reduce carbon emissions related to travel and promote efficient energy use through smart grids, smart meters and other demand-side energy management tools,” said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.

The Blue Green Alliance and its members added they expect further updates to this report as the evolving nature of technology warrants.

"We know that well-designed policies to expand broadband and Smart Grid techonology go hand-in-hand with other sustainable practices," said Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "This technology can transform the way people do business --helping the environment and the nation's economy at the same time. It's time to get moving--fast."

The updated report makes the following points for policymakers, noting that achieving our green economic future depends on large-scale adoption of broadband. Among the other key findings and recommendations in the updated version of the report:

• Broadband and information communication technologies have the potential to revolutionize energy management and economic development. A poor communications infrastructure underlies much of the wasted energy use in the U.S.
• Broadband technology can reverse rising electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Broadband and related communications technologies can pave the way for a greener and more robust economy.
• The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) has appropriated significant funding for Smart Grid efforts, including demonstration projects and research, funding that amounted to an estimated $11 billion in Smart Grid and related projects. The combination of recovery act and private funds will add 18 million new Smart Meters to the eight million already in use.
• This ARRA funding has helped create, stimulate and strengthen an ecosystem of firms working in the Smart Grid field. In 2010, an estimated $2.75 billion was spent on Smart Grid products related to Advanced Metering, Demand Response and Distribution Grid Management, among others.
• The National Broadband Plan has outlined a large number of recommendations for policymakers that do not require new funding, but instead are designed to both drive improvements in government efficiency and help encourage private activity that promotes national goals like expanding broadband access.

"All Americans, whether they live in a rural community, small town or urban neighborhood, need affordable access to the benefits of our digital society,” said CWA President Larry Cohen. That's how we'll see economic growth and the quality jobs that Americans need. This report also is important in that it recognizes the need for policies to ensure strong consumer and labor protections as technologies develop.”

Networking the Green Economy, Speed Matters