Obama has pledged to create “millions of new jobs” via his green economy. What he fails to acknowledge is the other side of the coin — namely, the impact that “greening” has on existing sectors of the economy. Say, for example, the auto industry.

Some good thoughts on that here. As Eric Peters points out:

The Obama administration has apparently decided to slam shut — and nail down — the coffin lid on the U.S. auto industry.

It was announced this week that the administration intends to give California and a handful of other states legal authority to impose their own mileage, emissions and fuel economy requirements — requirements that may and probably will exceed federal standards.

The auto industry — already crippled by sales that are off as much as 30-50 percent from last year — faces two equally unpalatable options: It will either have to either build two sets of cars for two different markets (California and the rest of the country) or make all their new vehicles meet the stricter “California standard” — which will be both complex and costly.

This is a devastating blow — and one that the enfeebled U.S. auto industry probably cannot withstand.

I’ve come to realize that some, if not most, environmentalists think the policies they advocate exist in a vacuum. They fail to see the ripple effect in the economy and the lost jobs. Or they do see it and think it’s a worthwhile price if it means their agenda will succeed.

In any event, I doubt you’ll see many laid off auto workers signing on with windmill or solar panel manufacturers.