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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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"

See full article.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.