With oil prices going through the roof lately there's been a lot of discussion regarding economic development stakeholders focusing on developing sustainable solutions to energy and other key environmental concerns which will no doubt lead to an increase in building new infrastructures. Someone is going to have to build them. Many experts believe these challenges present opportunities to create green collar jobs. States and municipalities who struggle to identify economic drivers and who have aging workforces will now start to compete with one another for ways to create incentives for companies to embrace green business practices, enter the emerging green economy and attract these types of jobs and workers.
So what are green jobs? While difficult to define, the general thought is they're positions that touch on corporate/social sustainability, which is the ability to eliminate waste and add value in such areas as energy, costruction, water and transportation. Some could argue that if a company is a leader in the manufacturer of eco-friendly products and has instituted green measures into its DNA and has traditional finance and HR positions that don't have a greeness to them, the mere fact that the company is green, makes all its positions green. A firms green mission should be embraced from top to bottom and visa versa. Also, if a firm is producing a product that is not green, but the firm has instituted green processes within their workforce, operation and supply chain, some could argue that these too are green jobs. A recent report by the San Francisco based Apollo Alliance concludes that the emerging green economy will no doubt create green jobs on all levels and will add value to our communities and create economic wealth. It just needs a little push and buy-in on all levels.
The Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders, is working to catalyze and drive the clean energy revolution in America and reduce dependence on foreign oil, cut carbon emissions, and expand opportunities for American businesses and workers. The Alliance’s green jobs report, Green Works, done in cooperation the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, suggests that with training, funded by the public and private sectors, workers will be better prepared to obtain positions in the new clean, green, energy efficient job sectors. The report is also accompanied by a similar study Greener Pathways, which is a plan of action for state policy makers,. The Pathways report also showcases some models of green job creation currently taking place throughout the country.
Recently, Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance, and the country’s leading green jobs promoter came to Connecticut and discussed green job development according to the Ringo green jobs gospel. Those in attendance were treated to a cross between Al Gore and the brimstone and fire of a Southern minister. He was both passionate and emotional about the great green opportunities that are available to all Americans. Jerome’s background includes 20 years in Louisiana’s petrochemical industry where he spent part of his time as a union member and began to work with environmental community groups to address taking steps about how to treat the environment better. In 1996, Jerome was elected to serve on the National Wildlife Federation board of directors and, in 2005 Jerome became the Chair of the board. In so doing, he was the first African-American to head a major conservation organization. Today he is President of The Apollo Alliance and a faculty member of UC Santa Barbara. He is also and advisors to the Discovery Channel’s Planet Green and the Sundance Channel’s, The Green. He’s even in Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth.
His message was very clear – the U.S. Government and American businesses have a great opportunity to be game changers and that the current and next generation of can play an active role and gain wealth in the emerging new green economy. Jerome was very passionate and stressed the need for the U.S. workforce to be prepared to not only design new infrastructures but to build them too. He emphasized that government’s role in this program is to give tax incentives to businesses to create green jobs, help train workers, and invest in clean energy technology. This includes the skilled trade jobs. He also discussed the mission of the Apollo Alliance and the significant role we all can play in fostering better lifestyles for many American middle-class workers.
The Pathways Report documents some case studies of several current green job initiatives taking place in American cities. Some of these include, •Milwaukee, with the help of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, has organized a major project to retrofit residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in order to significantly reduce energy consumption. Milwaukee Energy Efficiency, or Me2, is raising both public and private capital to finance the retrofit work. Building occupants pay back the funds through charges on their utility bills, and they will realize immediate savings from reduced energy costs.
•In Richmond, California, a non-profit group, Solar Richmond, forged a partnership with the city to provide low-cost and free installations of energy producing solar systems while simultaneously training low-income residents from the community to do the work. One of the project partners, Build Richmond, a city project, established a 10-week training program for construction and solar installation skills. Last year 32 residents completed the program and as of late last year, all but five program graduates were working for local solar and building companies.
•In Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian M. Fenty last September announced the start of a “Green Collar Job Advisory Council,” and has tapped the directors of four city agencies to play integral roles in the development of green jobs training policies. The central goals of Mayor Fenty's effort are to develop the capacity of local businesses and workers to capitalize on opportunities opened by an array of new green policies and programs. Among them are 1) a new Green Building Law, 2) storm water management and green urban infrastructure policies, 3) a comprehensive energy policy that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy installations, and 4) a city-wide commitment to reducing carbon emissions to fight climate change.
There are other reports that highlight the huge upside to the growth green jobs. One by the American Solar Energy Society suggests that 1 out of 4 workers in the U.S. will be working in the renewable energy or energy efficiency industries by 2030. Add that to green jobs created in other industries and that number maybe closer to 1 out of every 2. Additionally, there have been many surveys that show individuals would prefer to work for companies that have strong commitments to corporate and social responsibility ideals, a point that resonates with the current generation of workers coming out of college. While Jerome in his remarks kept referring to advancing green jobs as a movement, for U.S. companies to compete in the global marketplace, it might be past the stage of movement and has reached the stage of implementation.
States and Cities Compete for Green Jobs - To learn more about this author, visit Adam Ney's Website.
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