You're watching...
The Manhattan Institute’s Robert Bryce argues that the wind-energy jobs are too expensive to create.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
More heart that from the wind industry.
A new report -- a large scale wind power development in the mid Atlantic region.
Could create 70000.
New jobs.
But according to a Department of Energy report the entire -- wind industry right now employs only -- 5000 people.
Could one project told that a big one nearly double the number of -- -- in the wind industry joining us now is Robert Bryce the man.
You are gonna go through this quickly Robert you know the stories have post debate -- So they -- -- this project up and down the eastern seaboard -- as wind farms out in the ocean.
282 employs 70000 people is that a realistic number Robert.
Well I don't know where the numbers come from Stewart but if you look at what the assumptions are in the report.
They are assuming 7000 megawatts of new offshore wind.
Offshore wind is very expensive to build approximately five million dollars per megawatt so.
Roughly you're talking about a 35 billion dollar price tag to create 70000 jobs.
That's 500000.
Dollars per job you know ensure we can create jobs in any industry but once again.
The wind industry is claiming -- will create lots of jobs but it's gonna come at a very high price to consumer.
It -- joking 35 billion dollars total ticket that that would have to include a big chunk of government subsidies.
Well all of these wind projects right now -- are dependent on some kind of government subsidies.
But they're also that the problem is that wind when these projects if they're built.
We'll come out of with a very high cost of electricity the in Energy Information Administration estimates -- offshore wind prices will be on the neighborhood.
-- 240 dollars per megawatt hour last year the average wholesale price on the East Coast for electricity was 63 dollars so we're talking about a four fold.
Increase in the price average price of wholesale electricity so they need to but they need a mandate we must buy offshore wind electricity -- -- a second Gerri Willis has a question -- Robert.
Writes Gerri Willis here I wanted to ask you -- you have to -- acts like.
All energy sources are created equal but that's just not true is -- some have more density more power than -- and it's just not that effective.
Well you raise a good point Jerry and and and and it's essential that you do you make it because remember -- -- incurable -- intermittent so we can build these wind farms are wind projects off the coast but we would still need conventional.
Electricity generation.
To back it up and and and remember at 510 -- to seven to eight million dollars per megawatt we can we can put that same money into.
Nuclear -- in my view far it's hard to answer far smaller footprint.
And far more environmentally friendly.
Let me give you my opinion and you can -- -- -- -- -- I say this project up and down the eastern seaboard wind farms.
They're not gonna be built not gonna be doled out on the ocean it will not happen what -- said.
I I agree with you Stuart a look at what's happening in the UK right now there's a big backlash against the push for wind.
Same thing in the in France where the French senate just two months ago.
Put out a report estimating that offshore wind would cost close to 300 dollars.
Per megawatt hour I mean this is incredibly expensive vote electricity.
And in the carbon savings remember a few years ago all this push for -- and wind in particular which is a carbon emissions reduction scheme.
Now they're talking about jobs it's an interest in switches and has Robert Bryce very interesting -- -- thanks so much for joining us analyst thank you.
Thank civilians are exploding.
