The loss of GE has generated a lot of opinions and viewpoints on the possible ramifications to our state economy.
Instead of pouring any more energy into the loss of GE, our state should utilize resources to successfully attract several high profile, innovative companies and projects, focused on solving our transportation and energy problems.
The future of the automobile is electric. With the stunning success of the Tesla model S proving there is a solid market for electric cars, every single auto manufacturer is getting into electric automobiles. The heart of an electric automobile is the battery. Batteries need to be manufactured somewhere, why not right here in CT? There is a lot of media coverage of the giant battery factory (AKA the Gigafactory) being built by Tesla in Nevada. If CT were to successfully attract and build a battery giga factory, we would benefit from similar media buzz and CT would attract the attention of business leaders around the world who might be interested in building one of their high tech projects and or factories here.
Speaking of Tesla, they are not allowed to sell cars in CT. If you want to buy a Tesla, you have to go to another state. Every time a consumer does this, CT loses jobs and tax revenue. Forcing consumers to buy a Tesla in another state, while CT is suffering from massive budget deficits is completely insane. Allowing Tesla to sell cars on CT will bring in both jobs and tax revenue.
One of the most talked about transportation technologies is the Hyperloop concept originally created by Elon Musk, founder of Tesla automobile. More info about the Hyperloop can be found here. The Hyperloop could relieve congestion throughout our state and by manufacturing and designing the system in CT, we would benefit with jobs and tax revenue.
There is a tremendous amount of media coverage around the world about the Hyperloop and where it will be built. By building the Hyperloop and or manufacturing parts of it here, we would benefit from similar media buzz and CT would attract the attention of business leaders around the world who might be interested in building one of their high tech projects and or factories here.
Solar power is expanding throughout our state and around the world. In fact, most of the new power plants built over the past four years, have been solar. Solar is an expanding market, providing jobs and tax revenue, however, none of those solar panels are manufactured in CT. Why not?
Wind power is steadily gaining ground across the globe providing clean, reliable and affordable power. However, how many wind turbines are made in CT? Why isn’t the state government working hard to bring wind power manufacturing to our state?
Connecticut was built on manufacturing and our state benefited tremendously with jobs growth. The leaders of our state must realize this and use the loss of GE as an opportunity to learn from mistakes and capitalize on the future by building it here. If we do that, CT will return to prosperity in terms of both job expansion/creation and significantly lowering our budget deficits.
Image licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.