A few weeks ago, a headline in the New York Times caught my attention. “Green Policies in California Generated Jobs, Study Finds,” by Felicity Barringer pointed out a study conducted by David Roland-Holst from the Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Sustainability at UC Berkeley.

“Energy Efficiency, Innovation and Job Creation in California” was issued in October 2008 (the full report is at www.next10.org). The study focuses on the larger economic impact of the energy-efficiency policies already established in California and the policies that are being proposed.

One of the most interesting aspects of the study is the intersection of energy efficiency and jobs. A core finding: “Energy efficiency measures have enabled California households to redirect their expenditure toward other goods and services, creating about 1.5 million FTE (full-time equivalency) jobs with a total payroll of over $45 billion …” Those aren’t jobs associated with a national mission to spur alternative energy discoveries. They’re the result of Californians buying more goods and services from businesses that are largely within the state.

From this corner, it seems clear that a national commitment to developing and using alternative energy sources and products would produce jobs, whether in building machines that convert, oh say, orange peels or oak leaves into power or in maintaining a power grid that carried power from where it’s produced to where it’s needed without losing half of it along the way. It might even tempt college students to take a serious look at science and engineering instead of business management, which is a pretty heady prospect in itself. But now, there’s a new piece of the puzzle that’s making good sense to me, even at the most mundane level: If I’m not spending money on my monthly electricity bill, I can use that money to buy chocolates. Lots of chocolates. Sounds like a good plan.