10/15/2008

Boeing's machinists in Washington, Oregon and Kansas have been on strike for more than a month now, calling for, among other things, greater job security. Although neither party will be completely satisfied with the final outcome, we believe that with help from government investments, there may be ways for Boeing to make a profit and provide its employees with long-term job security that do not depend on defense contracts or fuel-hungry planes:

In short, Boeing can go green.

The Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst recently released a report on the benefits of a proposed, government-initiated $100 billion, two-year "green economic recovery program." This price tag seems staggering at first glance, but when compared to the cost of corporate bailouts, Congress' springtime economic stimulus package and the Iraq war spending bills, the numbers do not seem so outrageous — especially considering the value that would be generated by such an investment and the longer-term costs of not investing immediately in environmental sustainability.

The study recommends investments in:
— Retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency.

— Expanding mass transit and freight rail.

— Constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems.

— Wind power.

— Solar power.

— Next-generation biofuels.

These investments would create some 2 million new jobs, stabilize oil costs by reducing overall demand, reduce energy costs for homeowners, increase energy security and provide a sustainable boost to our nation's economy and infrastructure.

In addition to human, environmental and community benefits, there's also a lot of profit potential in going green. Earlier this year, the research firm Clean Edge projected revenue growth in wind, solar, biofuels and fuel cells of "$55.4 billion in 2006 and expanded 40 percent to $77.3 billion in 2007 to grow to $254.5 billion within a decade."

Some of the skilled professionals required to make this ambitious program work are electricians, welders, machinists, sheet metal workers and mechanics — not to mention civil, environmental, electrical and chemical engineers.

That brings us back to Boeing, which employs large numbers of experienced workers in all these areas. Boeing's experience with jet turbines could translate into unimaginable advances in windmill technology. Large-scale production facilities could be converted into manufacturing sites for public transportation hardware. Boeing also has experience in producing solar cells, and its unprecedented expertise in networking operations could prove invaluable to connecting new power sources to electric grids.

There is a real opportunity to transfer Boeing's strengths into a force for environmental reform, and it's worth noting that Boeing's defense sales are not exactly running at full stride right now. Although it made some $32 billion last year on defense systems, production is winding down on the F-15, the C-17 and the Delta IV Rocket, while the Homeland Security "virtual fence" project has been set back at least three years. There was a reduction in spending for the airborne laser, and now there are further delays and uncertainties regarding the Air Force tanker contract.

Combine this with Sen. John McCain's well-established opposition to pork-barrel spending and Sen. Barack Obama's pledge to reduce spending on future combat systems, and the next administration might not generate the level of defense-based profits to which Boeing has become accustomed.

For Boeing to get the most out of going green, it is crucial that our government commit to investing in green technologies. Missouri's status as a battleground state yields a real opportunity to pressure politicians into action. Our leaders need to realize that Missouri is ready for green jobs that can lead to job security, healthy profits and, best of all, clean energy for our nation. Everybody wins.

Andy Heaslet is the coordinator of the St. Louis-based Peace Economy Project. Sonya Carlson is the St Louis field organizer for the 1-Sky campaign, which advocates scientific solutions for climate change and sustainable economic security.