Report: U.S. needs energy efficiency

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A study from the U.S. Political Economy Research Institute suggests investment in energy efficiency could yield high dividends.

If the U.S. government invested $100 billion in energy efficiency and renewable energy, the gain could be equivalent to 2 million jobs.

Investment could come in the form of tax credits, loan guarantees and direct government spending, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The study was done by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Some of the investments should include efforts to expand mass transit, retrofit buildings and increase capacity for solar power, wind power and alternative fuels.