Saturday, November 21, 2009

Overview Of U.S. Green Job Creation By Sector

The national discussion on the emerging green careers and jobs gets some perspective from this helpful overview of emerging U.S. green industries:
Examiner.com -- Bay Area Green Careers Examiner, Michal Lenchner reports:

"1. Renewable Energy -- Generation: developing and using non-fossil energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Also includes green technological changes to non-renewable sources of energy, such as petroleum, coal, gas, and nuclear. Energy Trading: financial services of trading energy as an economic commodity and carbon trading projects.
Storage: capturing and storing energy and/or carbon emissions.

2. Energy Efficiency -- Increasing energy efficiency, capacity, reliability, and security.
Smart Grid infrastructure, construction, management and optimization. Includes the current and future electric grid, energy generation sources, distribution centers, allocation and wiring.
Service interruptions cost the American economy $100 billion each year. Per the GridWise® Alliance report, 280,000 new U.S. jobs will be created from smart grid deployment (full report: The U.S. Smart Grid jobs report - job creation by KEMA).

3. Transportation-- Increasing efficiency and/or reducing environmental impact of various modes of transportation including passenger transit, freight rail, and trucks.

4. Green Building and Construction -- Construction of new green buildings, retrofitting residential and commercial buildings, and installing other green construction technology.

5. Environmental Protection -- Environmental remediation, water conservation, climate change adaptation, and ensuring or enhancing air and water quality. Agriculture and forestry, efficient land management and farming. Also controlling GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in these sectors. Legislation for conservation and pollution prevention, regulation enforcement, and policy analysis and advocacy.

6. Manufacturing -- Industrial manufacturing of green technology, energy efficient manufacturing processes, environmentally preferred purchasing, and waste management.

7. Recycling, Regeneration and Waste Reduction --Solid waste and wastewater management, treatment, and reduction. Processing/managing recyclable materials.

Note that the green economy will also generate indirectly jobs in research, design, and consulting services, finance, and other related business services. New and enhanced legislation in many industries will be essential and will also require knowledgeable professionals." See full article:

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Study: Alternative Energy Would Create 1.9 Million New U.S. Jobs

A recent study by three universities provides an estimate of many new green jobs coming from alternative energy development in the U.S.
Smart Grid News.com reports:
"A collaborative study by three universities concludes that U.S. renewable energy policies could create as many as 1.9 million new jobs around the country. In addition, the study shows that those policies would account for an increase in annual household income of more than $1,000 and that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could increase $111 billion by 2020.

While the study has a long-winded title, Clean Energy & Climate Policy for U.S. Growth and Job Creation: An Economic Assessment of the American Clean Energy & Security Act and the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act, the news it presents is encouraging." See full article.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Senate Democrats: Climate Bill Good For Jobs

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reported out the climate bill over a boycott by committee republicans. Democrats remain confident the legislation will be good for job creation over the long term.

Jim Snyder from The Hill: reports:

"In a statement, Boxer, the chairwoman of the EPW panel, defended the decision to move forward with a vote without participation from committee Republicans.
'The committee and Senate rules that have been in place during Republican and Democratic majorities are there to be used when the majority feels it is in the best interest of their states and of the nation to act,' Boxer said.
'A majority of the committee believes that S. 1733, and the efforts that will be built upon it, will move us away from foreign oil imports that cost Americans one billion dollars a day, it will protect our children from pollution, create millions of clean-energy jobs, and stimulate billions of dollars of private investment.”' See full article.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

New Study: 850,000 New Manufacturing Jobs From Clean Energy

The maunfacturing industry will get a boost from clean energy according to a new study:

James Parks for AFL-CIO Blog reports:

"With more than 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost since the beginning of this recession in December 2007, a new report says developing a clean energy economy in the United States could create some 850,000 new manufacturing jobs.
The report, “Building the Clean Energy Assembly Line: How Renewable Energy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing and the American Middle Class,” by the Blue Green Alliance, recommends major policy changes to build markets for clean energy and provide the financing and capacity building to create clean energy jobs. See full article.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Durham NC Getting 500 New Green Manufacturing Jobs


New developments in light-emitting diode (LED) technology are creating new business and employment opportunities. North Carolina as one example.

Frank Vinluan of the Traingle Business Journal reports:

"Cree Inc. plans to hire more than 500 workers in Durham over the next three years, the maker of light-emitting diodes and LED lighting products announced Thursday afternoon.

The company currently employs about 1,500 in the Triangle. Cree (Nasdaq: CREE) cited the growing market for energy-efficient LED lighting as the reason for the new jobs. Cree plans to add 275 jobs in the remainder of 2009 to expand LED manufacturing at its Durham HQ. The company expects to hire an additional 300 workers by the end of 2012." See full article.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Ten Fastest-Growing Green Jobs


A book by Laurence Shatkin helps us understand the growing green job sectors:
Randy Woods for Hire Ground reports:

"The irony of our current economic situation, however, is that the greatest momentum in the green business field can be found in the sector that has perhaps been hardest hit by the recession: the construction industry. Through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program developed by the Green Building Council, the concept of "green building" has swept the industry with its energy-saving materials and design elements.
Today, LEED certification is being sought for most building projects, from single-family homes to skyscrapers--and a growing industry of LEED-trained engineers and designers are moving in to soak up demand.

The trend can be seen in the latest findings by occupational expert and author Laurence Shatkin. In his latest book, "200 Best Jobs for Renewing America," Shatkin analyzes six industry sectors that he says will lead a shift toward a "forward-looking economy"--education, infrastructure, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and green technology--and identifies sectors that have the fastest-growing and best-paying jobs in the nation.
In the green technology sector, Shatkin found that many of the new jobs can be found in the construction industry as property owners look for ways to reduce energy and operational costs. Here are the top 10 green jobs, in terms of nationwide growth, highlighted in Shatkin's book:

1. Environmental Engineers. Growth: 25.4 percent; avg. annual earnings: $72,350
2. Environmental Scientists and Specialists. Growth: 25.1 percent; avg. annual earnings: $58,380
3. Geoscientists. Growth: 21.9 percent; avg. annual earnings: $75,800
4. Industrial Engineers. Growth: 20.3 percent; avg. annual earnings: $71,430
5. Construction and Building Instructors. Growth: 18.2 percent; avg. annual earnings: $48,330
6. Construction Managers. Growth: 15.7 percent; avg. annual earnings: $76,230
7. Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters. Growth: 10.6 percent; avg. annual earnings: $44,090
8. Carpenters. Growth: 10.3 percent; avg. annual earnings: $37,660
9. First-line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. Growth: 9.1 percent; avg. annual earnings: $55,950
10. Electricians. Growth: 7.4 percent; avg. annual earnings: $44,780"

Saturday, September 26, 2009

A New Fund For Green Jobs In Low Income Communities

A new multi-billion dollar investment fund will help create green jobs and advance eco-friendly projects:

The New York Times and Green Inc reports via Dealbook:

"The Energy Efficiency Opportunity Fund, which is expected to announce its launch today at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York, is a social investment fund that will finance projects like retrofitting buildings to achieve greater energy efficiency.
It also plans to invest in low-income areas, creating “green collar” jobs in the process.
The fund is sponsored by Living Cities, a consortium of foundations and financial institutions that invests capital to strengthen low-income communities, and Green for All, an advocacy group founded by Van Jones, formerly the White House’s environmental jobs “czar,” that advocates for equality and opportunity in the new green economy." See full article.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Green Jobs: Learning Sustainable Landscaping In Providence

Unemployed and under-employed workers in Providence Rhode Island will get eight weeks of training on sustainable landscaping as part of new city program.

Alex Kuffner atProjo.com reports:

"The eight-week program created by Groundwork Providence and the Providence Housing Authority will train 30 unemployed or underemployed workers in sustainanable landscaping free of charge. The trainees will be able to take math and English classes in addition to courses in workplace safety and hazardous materials handling. "Groundwork is committed to providing low-income residents with the resources and skills they need to make a difference in their own communities," said Joe Vaughan, director of Groundwork Providence, a nonprofit environmental group." See full article:

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Governor and Energy Secretary Hear About Significant Green Job Growth In Delaware


To learn more about the reality of green job growth nationwide and in the State of Delaware, the U.S. Energy Secretary participated in a town meeting with Delaware's governor.

The Susssex Countian reports:
"Delaware companies talked face-to-face with U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and other White House officials Thursday at a town meeting co-hosted by Gov. Jack Markell.
Executives from White Optics, Delawind, Solarport, Flexara and W.L. Gore explained how their companies have succeeded at putting Delaware on the leading edge of the Green Economy. Success of companies like these is critical to getting our economy going again and protecting the environment from global warming and other harmful impacts of climate change.
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen our local and national economy,” Markell said. “We’re making solid progress in Delaware and I believe we’re well on our way to emerging as a leading example of a green economy.” See full article.

Green Jobs May Help California Out Of The Recession

The discussion about how much emphasis the U.S. should put on green job development and the role of government stimulus funds in that continues. Part of how California looks towrd its future is being discussed -- whether it will be able to compete in world markets and the quality of the jobs being created.

Lyanne Melendez and ABC San Franciso reports:

"Devon Swezey is with The Breakthrough Institute, an Oakland-based think tank group on energy and climate issues. "The Chinese government is offering substantial support in terms of credit guarantees, loan guarantees, low cost financing to directly grow their solar manufacturing industry. The chinese government is engaged in the productive policy of support for this industry in the way the US is not or has never been," said Swezey.
According to the Governor's Office, since 2005 so-called green jobs have grown 10 times faster than the total job growth in California. But critics says that comes at a price because the green industry is heavily subsidized and many believe when tax payer money supports some jobs, other jobs in businesses paying those higher taxes are likely to be lost." See full article.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

New York Lawmakers Approve Green Job Creation Bill


The New York Senate passed a bill to create jobs by making a million homes more energy efficient. The legislation is now headed for the governor's signature.

BizJournals.com reports:

"The “green jobs” program, ... passed by a 52-8 vote. Its goal is to make 1 million small businesses, nonprofits and residential homes more energy-efficient over the next five years. Legislators say “thousands” of jobs would be created to perform the energy retrofitting work; the bill creates a training program for potential workers. The bill unanimously passed the Assembly earlier this year. The bill now goes to Paterson for his signature. See full article.

Iowa's Governor Creates New Green Jobs Task Force


Governor Chet Culver has come out strongly in support of green jobs for Iowa.

MidwestAgnet.com reports:

"The fifteen member task force is to help focus state government's efforts in creating high-paying, green-collar jobs, as well as coordinate the state's efforts to secure federal green initiative grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Roya Stanley, Executive Director of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence, will serve as chair, and Lis Buck, Director of Iowa Workforce Development, will serve as Vice Chair. Executive Order 16 charges the task force with creating jobs and training workers in the renewable energy industry. They are to prepare a report and present it to the Governor by October 1st on their activities, and provide recommendations on ways we can expand the number of green-collar jobs in Iowa." See full article.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Detroit: Ford Plant Will Reopen With 4,000 Green Jobs

Ford's Wixom assembly plant near Detroit was shut down but will reopen as a green energy manufacturing center.

WWJ.com reports:

"Ford has reached an agreement in principle to sell Wixom Assembly to Xtreme Power of Austin, Texas, and Clairvoyant Energy of Santa Barbara, Calif. Xtreme Power will manufacture its large-scale energy storage systems at the site, while Clarivoyant will build high-efficiency solar panels there with partner Oerlikon Solar.

Initially, Clairvoyant will create 270 new jobs and make a $250 million investment in the plant. It may hire 700 more later depending on demand. The more labor intensive Xtreme will create 2,500 new jobs and make a $450 million investment. Eventually, state officials say, the plant will house upwards of 4,000 green energy jobs -- nearly as many as it had at its peak as an auto assembly plant." See full article.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Wind Power Market Growing Faster Than Other Sources

Estimates are that wind power will grow at 19.75% this year and is expected to reach 425 GW by 2015.

Trading Markets.com reports:

"Wind is the world's fastest-growing source of power generation with an average annual growth of 29% over the last ten years. At the beginning of 2009, the global wind power generating capacity stood at almost 121 gigawatts (GW), representing a twelve-fold increase from a decade ago when world wind power generation capacity was just over 10.2GW. Being an emerging fuel source a decade ago, wind energy has grown rapidly into a mature and booming global industry, primarily due to global concerns over climate change, energy security and declining costs of wind power generation. The future prospects of the global wind industry are very encouraging and it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.75% between 2008 and 2015 to reach 425GW by 2015." See full article.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Will Cap And Trade Push Lead To Lasting Alliance Between Workers and Environmentalists?


The Blue-Green Aliance shows hope that working toward a new alternative energy economy will create a lasting alignment between environmental stewardship and economic prosperity.

Ben Gemen of Climate Wire and the New York Times reports:

"Both of these movements have realized they really need each other to get what they want," said J. Timmons Roberts, a Brown University sociologist who has written on labor-environmental coalitions. The Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers, after years of work together, formally launched the alliance in 2006. The effort expanded in 2008 and 2009, adding the Natural Resources Defense Council and several unions -- the Service Employees International Union, Communications Workers of America, Utility Workers Union of America, Laborers' International Union of North America, and the American Federation of Teachers.

The alliance has focused largely on supporting legislation that would impose national curbs on greenhouse gas emissions and boost deployment of low-carbon energy sources that both groups say will create scores of new "green jobs." But the alliance is also pushing for workplace-organizing legislation -- labor's top priority -- as well as changes in trade policy and curbs on industrial toxics." See full article.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Alternative Energy Companies Look To Buy Closed Michigan Ford Plant


A closed Ford plant near Detroit may get some new life.
David Eggert at Associated Press reports:

"Two alternative energy companies planning to buy a closed Ford Motor Co. factory near Detroit want to convert it into the country's largest renewable energy park, with at least 2,800 workers building storage batteries, solar panels and possibly wind turbines.
The proposed $725 million project outlined to state lawmakers Wednesday would be a coup for a state in desperate need of jobs. Michigan, with the highest unemployment rate in the nation, hopes to become a major player in the green economy." See full article.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Survey: Corporate Sustainability Jobs Increasing


GreenBiz has been busy doing a green jobs survey:
Melissa Hincha-Ownby at Mother Nature Network reports:

"More than 600 GreenBiz Intelligence Panel members participated in the most recent survey, which started in late July and closed earlier this month. The survey results show an “increasing headcount for environmental and sustainability positions along with greater spending by environmental, health and safety (EHS) departments at large corporations. These are promising findings that the emerging green economy may be outpacing indicators of a broader recovery.” Source: GreenBiz

This job growth is in stark contrast to the rising unemployment rates in the nation during the same time period. According to the Department of Labor, in July 2009, the national unemployment rate was 9.4%. As of August 15, there were 576,000 unemployment initial (UI) claims and the 4-week average for UI claims was 570,000." See full article:

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Imperial Valley Gets New Green Job Training Center

Local residents in Imperial City, CA will have a better opportunity to learn green jobs skills. (Photo: Center for American Progress)

KYMA.com reports:

"the New Electrical Training Center in the City of Imperial held it’s grand opening. The Center, which has been running since March, is the home base of a five year apprenticeship program that trains local residents in green jobs. Organizers say the program helps the working class in the Imperial Valley. The apprenticeship program provides workers with health care, a pension retirement contribution and lifelong journeymen skills." See full article.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Study: Biofuels Market Will Triple to $240 Billion In Ten Years


A new study by Pike research sees major growth in biofuels.

Clean Energy.org reports:

"In a positive outlook for the biodiesel industry, Pike Research, a new cleantech analysis firm headquartered in Boulder, Colo., has predicted robust growth over the long-term for the global renewables market. “The study started out as an assessment of technologies in the biofuels industries, but then it grew into a more of a market analysis,” said Robert McDonald, author of the report." See full article.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Washington DC "Boomtown" Could Have 190,000 Green Jobs In Its Future


Washington DC certainly has its own economic fabric. Green jobs will be a significant part of its next decade.

International business news source e yugoslavia reports:

“The federal government is our foundation, but it’s a mutually reinforcing set of factors,” said Matt Erskine, director of the Greater Washington Initiative. “Smart people are attracted to other smart people.” More than half of the area’s people over age 25 have a college degree, and more than 50 universities and specialized educational establishments are based in and around Washington. Erskine sees new environmental technologies as an area for future growth. A recent study by the US Conference of Mayors estimated that more than 190,000 “green” jobs could be created in the region in the next 30 years. See full article.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Michigan Autoworkers Go Solar

Laid off autoworkers are retraining for green jobs in Michigan.

Cooler Planet.com news reports:

"thanks to Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind program, launched in 2007, 80,000 workers have so far been retrained, many of them under the Green Jobs Initiative. In fact, according to a May 2009 Green Jobs report, the state now supports 109,067 green jobs, 96,767 having a direct impact on the new green energy economy and the balance representing support jobs. This puts Michigan’s green job category at 3 percent of overall employment. A newer initiative, proposed by President Barack Obama, hopes to extend the program, and the funding, to by $12 billion to aid those unemployed who are still left behind.Many of these green jobs are in solar energy, and at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, laid-off auto workers are retraining to install and maintain photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.... GM’s failure, falling solar panel prices, the potential for Peak Oil in a decade, and a president’s commitment to renewable energy and renewable energy jobs – appears to have reached a conflux whose effect can’t yet be statistically calculated, but may the perfect driver for America’s green energy future." See full article.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Virgina Will Prosper With Clean Energy And Cap And Trade

Virginia stands to prosper in the clean and renewable energy game.

See Christen Duxbury's letter the the editor to Fredericksburg.com:

[Cap and trade legislation] "would build on Virginia's substantial clean-jobs market--which consists of more than 16,000 clean jobs, 1,400 clean businesses, and has a growth rate of 6 percent (information from a 2009 study by the Pew Center for the States). Job opportunities would skyrocket if clean-energy legislation were to create a focused effort to build up sustainable business sectors such as pollution mitigation, conservation, energy efficiency, retrofitting homes, and wind, biomass, and solar power.
Virginia's potential sustainable business growth has already grabbed the attention of key business leaders. According to a 2009 Pew Charitable Trusts study, Virginia received nearly $71 million in clean-technology venture capital between 2006 and 2008." See full letter.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

McKinsey Report: U.S. Energy-Saving Would Create 600,000 to 900,000 Green Jobs


The global consulting firm of Mckinsey and Company , finds that elevating energy efficiency to a national priority could spur the creation of 600,000-900,000 long-term green jobs and reduce our overall U.S. energy consumption by 23 percent. This could avoid up to 1.1 gigatons of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

The New York Times Reports:

"A new report on energy efficiency from the consulting firm McKinsey found that the United States could save $1.2 trillion through 2020, by investing $520 billion in improvements like sealing leaky building ducts and replacing inefficient household appliances with new, energy-saving models." See full article.


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Downturn Doesn't Halt Central Oregon Green-Job Growth


There are places across the nation where green jobs are offering terrific hope.
Kate Ramsayer at the Ashland Dailing Tidings reports:

"There's only so many windy patches of Earth — and even fewer patches close to transmission lines. So for the next five to 10 years, the wind power industry is going to be running full steam ahead, said Mike Costanti, principal with Western Community Energy. He anticipates quadrupling the size of his Bend-based company's development staff over the next couple of years, with jobs for turbine operators, lawyers, permit writers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, construction workers and more.

'We have a lot of room for growth,' Costanti said. A study recently released by the Oregon Employment Department found that Oregon had more than 51,000 "green jobs" in 2008."

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Colorado Solar Plant Generates Jobs And Energy


A new solar plant in Colorado is generating power and 200 new jobs.
Amy Lou Jenkins at Examiner.com reports:
"Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar visted the High-Tech Solar Panel Plant in Longmont, CO to call attention to a reinvigorated U.S. high-tech manufacturing sector. Salazar met with employees of an innovative solar panel company that has created more than 200 ‘green jobs’ in two years and expects to double employment by next year. 'Abound Solar and hundreds of renewable energy companies sprouting up across the nation are keys to solving our energy and climate change challenges.'” See full article.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Is US Falling Behind In Green Energy Race?

Two U.S. businesss leaders think we are and that we must do something about it: (Image: Green DC)

Green Stocks Central.com reports:

"[August 3rd] in the Washington Post, General Electric (GE) CEO Jeff Immelt and famed venture capitalist John Doerr wrote an op ed piece highlighting the failure of the US to take the lead in green energy and the emergence of China as the leader.
Some interesting facts:

- China cars are 35% more fuel efficient

- they spend 10x what the US does as a % of GDP on green energy

- China on track to create 150,000 jobs through the deployment of 120GW of wind power within 10 years

- US is home to only one of the top 5 wind turbine manufacturers (GE)

- US is home to just one of the top 10 solar panel producers (hmm.. I thought it was two – FSLR, SPWRA)

- US is home to just two of the top advanced battery makers.

Middle Tennessee Looks To New LED Plant For Green Jobs


Rutherford County in Middle Tennessee stands to see hundreds of new jobs due to a new business partnership.

Scott Broden from the Tennesseean reports:

"Davis Groupe in Murfreesboro, Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company in Clarksville and NCS Power Inc., based in Vancouver, Wash., plan to team to make energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights in Middle Tennessee in the next six to 18 months.

Phase I of the arrangement will involve adding about 100 to 200 jobs in the next six to 18 months, with about half of the positions coming to Rutherford County, said Davis Groupe owner Jimmy Davis, who’s confident that automotive suppliers such as the Davis Groupe will create thousands of jobs making alternative energy products." See full article.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Laid-Off Michigan Workers Re-Train For Green Jobs

America's community colleges are moving toward re-training America's workforce. One school in Dearborn Michigan is an example.

The Straits Times reports:

"In a crowded classroom at Henry Ford Community College, laid off auto workers are learning how to install and manage solar panels. The class is part of a new alternative energy technology programme the college created to help retrain the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the collapse of the auto industry.

Sean Peppers, 37, has spent nearly two decades working in auto supplier plants but has not been called for a single interview since he was laid off from his engineering job in January. He hopes the alternative energy degree will help him find work at a plant building parts for wind turbines, or solar panels, or anything that is not a car. Most of the 65 students taking the alternative energy classes are getting their tuition paid through an state programme which provides scholarships to Michigan residents who are unemployed or earning less than 40,000 dollars a year." See full article.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Long Island's Green Workforce Grows

A partnership between a New York utility and BP Solar is producing new jobs.

Claude Solnik at Long Island Business News reports:

"When the Long Island Power Authority in March chose BP Solar to provide 37 megawatts of photovoltaic power at Brookhaven National Laboratory, it was good news for solar advocates. But those in the local solar industry worried the nation’s biggest ground-mounted solar installation might be built in their backyard without Long Island labor.
BP has since said it expects the project, big enough to power 4,700 homes, to provide a boost for local solar workers, generating more than 200 jobs for construction, engineering and electrical work." See full article.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Main Reasons Green Jobs Are For Real


It is good to see the reasons green jobs are for real pulled together in one place.

Carol McClelland, PhD at Article Maniac reports:

"Is the green economy the next big bubble? Or in other words...Is it worth training for jobs in the green economy or will they vanish by the time we are ready to go to work? My take on this question: Although I am not an economist, politician, or psychic, I have been tracking developments in the green economy for over two years. I continue to see signs of momentum in a variety of arenas." See list of reasons.


Also see McClelland's website: Green Career Central

New Jersey Energy Audit Program Produces New Green Jobs


A New Jersey Utility is creating new jobs by cutting waste and helping people with energy audits.

Beth Fitzgerald at NJBiz.com reports:

"Al Matos, vice president of renewables and energy solutions for Public Service Electric & Gas, said the company has hired 13 energy auditors, and should have 200 or more on board in three years. The training and deployment of energy auditors is funded through state and federal programs, and overseen by the state Department of Labor’s Green Job Training Partnership Program. The state’s utilities industry could eventually provide 1,000 or more of these entry-level green jobs, Matos said. “I think this is going to be very big,” Matos said. “Between the federal and state support, we are going to have more and more of these green jobs to do home and business energy audits, and to install solar panels.” See full article.