Green Education Prospectus
Green Job Growth
Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series Database; analysis by Pew Center on the States and Collaborative Economics.
Green Job Distribution
Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series Database; analysis by Pew Center on the States and Collaborative Economics.
Tag Archives: california
“Carboholics” (Carbon-Loving) US & China are Unlikely Marriage for Energy Efficiency Project
The saying “two heads are better than one” comes to mind when trying to work through a particularly difficult crossword puzzle; but how universal is this old adage? Are say, two countries better than one? Our leadership seems to be hedging their bets towards the conclusion that this is in fact the case. In line with this spirit of collaboration comes the latest in a series of interesting (and sometimes unlikely) pairings in the environmental research and development field. Berkeley Lab has been chosen to lead a cooperative US-China project called the Clean Energy Resource Center (CERC).
The project was conceived in 2009, beginning with a meeting between United States President Barack Obama and President Hun Jintao of China. The meeting was held in Beijing to establish a basis for the cooperative effort, which will work to develop efficient energy-saving buildings and cost-effective / waste reducing construction processes in the next five years. It is a dubious mating for the more cynical among us, especially considering the United States’ seemingly uncontrollable construction fetish (for wastefully assembled “throwaway buildings” which are simply replaced every 10 or 15 years or whenever they go out of style) and China’s love for all things carbon (if you recall the vicious smog that threatened the health of Olympic Athletes during the Beijing Summer Games and the mysterious “air scrubbers” that the Chinese government was supposedly using to keep the rampant pollution under control). Continue reading
Posted in Green, Green Government, Sustainable Living
Tagged berkely lab, california, carbon dioxide emissions, carbon emissions, china, clean energy resource center, eco friendly, electricity, energy, energy conservation, energy efficiency, environment, hun jintao, obama, sustainability
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California Governor Announces Launch of Green Jobs Website
California is once again striving to put itself at the forefront of the green community. Recently California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a new green economy initiative for Californians. To help Californians find employment opportunities in green industries, The Golden State has launched an all-new Clean Energy Jobs website.
The Clean Energy Jobs website can be found at www.energy.ca.gov/cleanenergyjobs. It aims to provide resources to Californians that are geared towards promoting jobs related to recycling, clean transportation, renewable energy and other green opportunities. Currently, the site consists of 48 programs which offer training to Californians in these lucrative fields. The programs and training are offered through organizations like community colleges, local workforce investment boards and private industry groups.
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Posted in Green, Green Collar, Green Government, Sustainable Living, green education
Tagged america, american recovery and reinvestment act, california, california energy commission, california's clean energy workforce training program, californians, clean energy, clean energy jobs website, community colleges, employers, employment development department, green economy, green industries, green jobs, Internet, jobs, labor unions, republican governor arnold schwarzenegger, sustainable economy, trained workers, websites, workforce investment boards
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Important Trends in Alternative Energy
Breakdown Of Alternative Energy Use in the US
Recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released their most recent report regarding the consumption of alternative energy in the United States. While the nation’s complete dependence on fossil fuels is readily apparent in the report, there are signs of progress as well. Nationwide, renewable energy sources accounted for over 7% of the total energy consumption. Within that 7% the main type of renewable energy that was consumed was biomass, meaning the burning of fuels produced from renewable sources such as ethanol production and biodiesel accounting for 52% of the total renewable energy consumed. The biomass sector has seen substantial growth, more than doubling its market share in the period between 2004-2008. The second leading source of renewable energy consumed was hydroelectric power which accounted for 34%. Hydroelectric energy production has remained steady (with minor fluctuations due to water levels) at between 2.2 and 3.6 quadrillion Btu/yr for about 20 years. The leading states as far as hydroelectric power generation were Washington, Oregon, New York, California, Montana and Idaho, although there was some growth in Alabama, Arkansas and New York. Since plans for the construction of new dams is limited, it can be expected that these figures will continue basically unchanged.
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Posted in Green, Green Government, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Living, Wind Energy
Tagged alta wind energy center, american recovery and reinvestment act, california, clean energy, clean energy jobs, eco friendly, electricity, future of energy investment, renewable energy, solar, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, sustainability, types of renewable energy, wind energy, wind turbines
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Managing Green Job Training
Government support of green-collar
It looks like the traditional workforce classifications of white / blue collar have a new companion that is here to stay: green collar jobs. Two decades ago, energy conservation and renewable energy programs in their infancy struggled with instability as well as a lack of public and economic support. However as the new millennium has unfolded it has served up consumers with a bitter cocktail of rising fuel and energy costs, increasing limitations on access to energy, steady tax hikes and continuingly dire predictions about the future of our planet’s environment should we continue down this road. With these factors serving as constant reminders of the importance of saving energy, consumer awareness of the efficiency and renewable “green” energy sectors is higher now than it has ever been. Thanks in part to that heightened awareness, in the next decade it is expected that we will see a up to a 400% increase in the eco-related green jobs market.
In anticipation of the growth in the sector, the government has funded $500 million to boost green jobs-related training focused on energy conservation and natural resources preservation. Graduate training has also begun to shift its focus from pure academics to more utilitarian leadership roles in applied sciences; particularly on energy conservation programs, environmental management, and planning.
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California Senator Tours Green Facility
US Senator Barbara Boxer who also chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has always been instrumental in the creation of clean energy jobs and as well as in brawling against global warming. She even joined Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in writing the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009 last year. It was a legislation geared towards minimizing America’s reliance on foreign oil, focusing on global warming, and establishing millions of clean energy jobs as well.
Recently, Senator Boxer visited the manufacturing plant and global headquarters of Capstone Turbine Corporation at Chatsworth, California. Her visit was based on four objectives: to gain knowledge on the company’s clean-and-green energy technology to acknowledge Capstone for establishing clean tech manufacturing jobs for the American people; and to show her appreciation towards the company’s success in selling US made energy products abroad. At the same time, it was an opportunity for the Senator and the Capstone executives to convene and tackle about America’s needs for a comprehensive climate and energy policy that will help in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions as well as in providing clean-energy technology jobs for California and the United States as a whole. Continue reading
Posted in Green
Tagged california, capstone turbines corporation, clean energy jobs, clean tech manufacturing jobs, clean-and-green energy techn, global warming, green facility, greenhouse gas emissions. global climate change, jobs. energy, low-emission microturbines, low-emission technologies, microturbine energy systems, microturbines, reduction of emissions, senator barbara boxer, senators, technology, us, us made energy products
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New Green Jobs Create Energy Efficient Workforce
Thanks to an all out campaign of the Obama Administration in providing clean energy investments-more than $80 billion and green job generation. With the growing demands for green jobs, many groups are committed to greener living by providing training and opportunities across the nation to fully-equip the next generation to be part of environmentally-friendly industries.
From hands-on jobs like installation of solar panels, electric vehicles maintenance, fuel cell technology researchers, wind turbines manufacturing, US is keen on having a low-carbon, clean energy economy. Latest addition is the California Green Jobs Corp. which provides education and skills training to low-income youth to land them a green employment.
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Training Californians for Sustainable Jobs
As America continues to realize the benefits of a green economy, more and more people are getting interested in it. A green economy takes on six main sectors, such as renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation, water management, waste management and land management. Because of its varying advantages, many have participated in different programs, availed of green products/services and others have taken on green collar jobs.
To ensure that people are ready to work on green collar jobs, the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board and CleanEdison Inc. will start on a free, green job training program. Geared towards helping dislocated country residents, this program is made possible through the utilization of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’s grant money. Other than ensuring the residents’ readiness on their jobs, the said program is also intended for motivating the regional economy as well as to enhance their skills.Sandy Harmsen, Director of Workforce Development in San Bernardino County., said “This program will provide crucial training to traditionally under-served community members, as well as retrain incumbent workers seeking to upgrade their skills.” Furthermore, he believes that the program is really beneficial for both the workers and the energy efficiency sector. “This initiative will help develop a skilled green workforce and provide career advancement and job security to workers, while helping to meet demand in the growing energy efficiency sector.”
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Posted in Green, Green Collar, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Living
Tagged bpi, bpi certification, california, certification program, cleanedison inc., geothermal classes, green collar jobs, green economy, green jobs, leed, LEED Certification, san bernardino county, san bernardino county workforce investment board, san bernardino residents, solar training, training, wind and renewable energy, workforce
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Car Charging Group Praises California Lawmakers
At a recently held California Public Utilities Commission meeting, California regulators voted to make it easier for electric car charging companies to resell power in California. They commended Car Charging Group Inc. [NASDAQ:CCGI] a company that owns and provides electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in California with goals to construct infrastructure nationwide. Because of the vote of confidence, EV charging companies like Car Charging Group can now easily operate in California without the troublesome regulations of an investor-owned utility.
CCG’s CEO Michael D Farkas said California has led the way in green technology and the state is further clearing the road for EV charging companies by lifting regulations that restricted their ability to sell power. He continued, saying that this is a great way to bring in revenue from EV Charging stations and will help in achieving his company’s goals. He encouraged other states to follow California’s example stating that if they did the company would be able lower the price of their services, benefitting both property owners and consumers.
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Posted in Car, Green
Tagged california, car, car charging group, charging stations, elctric vehicle, environment, ev charging, green, green house gases, infrastructure, sustainable energy
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Terra-Gen Gets Green Light for Wind Farm in Mojave Desert
Tuesday marks the start of the Alta Wind Energy Center, which plans to build turbines on thousands of acres in California’s desolate Mojave Desert. It is being called the largest power project in the country, placing towering wind turbines in the Mojave Desert foothills, which will produce electricity for 600,000 homes in Southern California.
The project has faced a lot of problems, from years of ownership changes, opposition from local residents and endless infrastructure delays. On Tuesday the project will finally kick off in the Tehachapi Pass, a budding hot spot for wind energy located 75 miles north of Los Angeles. Analysts have said that after completion, the Alta Center could produce three times more energy than the country’s largest existing wind farm.
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Posted in Green
Tagged alta wind energy center, california, electricity, environment, green, green energy, mojave desert, power, power project, sustainable energy, tehachapi pass, wind
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House Rep Leaders Urged Obama to Save Clean Energy Jobs Program
The Obama Administration is encouraged by 60 House Representatives to save the save Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The program was said to have successfully created jobs in the green market and allowed home owners to save money on electricity costs and lowered the amount of carbon dioxide emissions per private residential unit.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has a put a stop in the operation of the PACE program this month. FHFA refused the idea of paying off PACE loans which is associated to residential homes as property assessments by nature and see it take priority over mortgage if in case the unit in question was foreclosed. However, this was opposed by the 60 house representatives and is asking the White House to reconsider the plan of reviving the said program and help protect individuals having mortgage investments.
