Ch. 28 Two Generations of Work

"The creation of millions of secure, well-paid jobs

must be at the forefront of any Green Industrial Revolution."

- Clive Lewis

According to Jeremy Rifkin, the transition to the Third Industrial Revolution will take about 30 years. This is about the same amount of time we might need to build the robust cooperative economic sector outlined in Chapter 21. 

There are no simple and quick solutions to problems that are as big and complex as global warming and widespread economic inequality. These issues were decades in the making and won't be solved overnight.

While that may seem like bad news, it's actually good news. 

Why?

For three reasons:

1. It provides us with an opportunity to create millions of new jobs. It will take a lot of work to get this new infrastructure built.

2. It allows us to not just create "jobs" but cooperative worker-owner opportunities. This is how we build our new Cooperative Economy with a Green New Market focused on community wealth building, not just adding to the overflowing coffers of the 1%. 

3. A real lasting change requires a shift in culture. A shift in culture takes time, education, new conversations, and the modeling of new behavior. 

So we must embrace the reality that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and that it will take time to build that better world. 

In the previous chapter, we discussed the five pillars of the Third Industrial Revolution. But let's examine what it looks like on the ground. 

Transforming buildings into micro power plants

This means retrofitting existing buildings (skyscrapers, office buildings, private homes, apartment complexes) so that they are much more energy-efficient than most are now. This work could include replacing windows, doors, insulation, and in older buildings upgrading electrical wiring. 

Adding roof-top solar (right now a 30 year solar roof is under development) to buildings, as well as wind turbines, hydroelectric, biomass waste-to-energy, etc. 

Deploying hydrogen and other storage technologies throughout infrastructure 

Installing battery banks and other energy storage systems. Researching and developing more efficient methods for hydrogen use. 

Using internet technology to transform the power grid into a decentralized energy sharing platform

Installing smart meters in every building, and connecting every building to an energy sharing network. Which means building a new physical infrastructure, as well as creating a new virtual network. 

Transitioning the transport fleet to electric, self-driving, and shared vehicles

Installing new EV charging stations all over the country. Creating a network of sensors and data sharing points. Creating car sharing platforms. Upgrading our public transportation system, including high-speed rail, light rail, electric buses, etc. 

With all of these industries expanding, they’re going to need more help in the service sector as well. 

That's a lot of work.

Almost all of this work will need to be done by human hands. AI isn't going to install solar panels on your rooftop. 

What we are talking about here is 30 years, two generations of work. Both skilled and unskilled labor. 

Bear in mind that China and large parts of Europe are already investing billions of dollars in a system exactly like we have described here. We are behind. But again, that's not necessarily bad news. 

If we are willing to take decisive action and move forward on the long overdue Third Industrial Revolution, this is the kind of opportunity that only comes along once every 100 years. 

An opportunity to utilize the breakthroughs we've already achieved in communication to take a leap forward in the areas of energy and transportation. All while systematically transforming our economy to one that is cooperative, fair, and equitable. 

In the last two Industrial Revolutions there were definite winners and losers. Those Revolutions were controlled by, and profited only the elite. 

This new Revolution can be the tide that raises all ships, but only if We The People take the initiative to make it happen. 

Yes, there is a cost to progress. 

There always is. 

But over the last few decades we have observed the cost of renewable energy going down. For example there is Swanson’s Law.

You may have heard of Moore’s Law of Semiconductors. It’s the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years or so. But you’re probably not familiar with Swanson’s Law, which applies to solar power. Solar has grown exponentially cheaper and more efficient every year. 

In 1977 solar power cost $77.67 per watt. 

In 2013 it was $0.74 per watt. 

That's a huge difference. Now it's less than $0.51 and it's still going down.

As we've said before, yes the fixed cost of installing this new green infrastructure is high, but the marginal cost of maintaining it is relatively low. 

And more importantly the cost of inaction, in money, lives and environmental destruction is something that we can no longer afford to ignore. 

It's time for us to do the work required to bring forth the Third Industrial Revolution and to create a new Sharing Economy.