There has been a recent rash of news stories and reports about the fact that clean energy manufacturing jobs are going overseas. This isn’t too surprising – U.S. manufacturing jobs have been leaving our shores for quite some time now – but it is frustrating. For one thing, American workers are hurting for jobs really badly at the moment, especially workers in traditional manufacturing states whose unemployment rates are at all-time highs. For another thing, for those of us who promote green jobs as a way to revive the economy, we need to pay attention to policies that can keep the clean energy manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Otherwise, we’ll see green construction and operations and maintenance jobs grow without seeing a revival of American manufacturing.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal ran a story (Chinese-Made Turbines to Fill U.S. Wind Farm) about a Chinese wind-turbine company that is going to be the exclusive supplier to one of the largest wind-farm developments in the U.S. The development, which will be located in West Texas, is ostensibly going to create 2,800 jobs, but only 15% of the jobs will be in the United States. The rest will be in China.

On Sunday, the Green Inc. column on the New York Times website took up the same topic (Chinese Involvement in Proposed Texas Wind Farm Stirs Passions) and included lots of angry comments from readers who wanted to know why U.S. companies—rather than a Chinese company–couldn’t and shouldn’t be manufacturing these wind turbines. The column also mentioned that China’s foray into the American wind power market comes alongside its dominance of the solar panel manufacturing industry.

But let’s not focus too much on China when what we should be focusing on is whether there are U.S. policies that can encourage the clean energy manufacturing jobs to land in the United States instead of somewhere else. One policy to consider is U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s IMPACT Act, which would make loans available to small and mid-sized manufacturers that want to retool and get into clean energy manufacturing. Senator Brown is working to get the IMPACT Act incorporated into the Senate climate and clean energy bill. Click here to learn more about it.

By:  Ron Ruggiero

What happens when you combine cutting edge clean energy policy with the tried-and-true principles of community engagement?  Just ask the Green Justice Coalition, which convenes the Massachusetts Apollo Alliance.

Over the past several months, the Green Justice Coalition tackled the thorny issue of how to make the utilities’ energy efficiency programs both more equitable and effective.  They knew that they could make these programs create solid economic development and high quality jobs in their communities, save families money on their utility bills, and do their part to tackle climate change.

That’s when they came up with their winning recipe:  add one part innovative policy, mix it with another part mobilized community, and then get some unusual cooks together into the same kitchen to put on the finishing touches.

According to Darlene Lombos, co-director of Community Labor United, “We are about to see what the green economy can look like when unions, community based organizations in working class communities of color, and environmental organizations work together. The utility companies are going to guarantee all the key ingredients an equitable green economy needs: High job quality, up front financing for working class families, and community based mobilization. Partnerships really are a winning strategy.”

What is fueling Ms. Lombos’ excitement?  On October 27, 2009, Massachusetts adopted a $1.4 billion plan that will:

–create high-quality jobs in the state’s highest unemployment communities;

–provide up-front financing so that low- and moderate-income families can afford to do deep retrofits of their residences and maximize their savings;

–cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Given our current economic troubles, the promise of not simply “jobs” or even “green jobs”, but good green jobs creation is welcome news to many, including Rich Rogers, Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council and Community Labor United Board Chair.  ““In the middle of a jobless recession and a jobless recovery, this Green Justice Coalition is about to create, not just ‘green jobs’ but access to union careers in a rapidly expanding green economy. We are committed to making green jobs good jobs.”  In fact, the plan passed on October 27th includes provisions to ensure that quality contractors are used to do the work–which will maximize the economic development of the program.

At Apollo, our hats are off to our Massachusetts Apollo Alliance and the Green Justice Coalition for helping to make such a victory possible.  They are proving possible the Apollo vision of combining strong energy policy with an economic development plan and brought to fruition by a broad and diverse coalition of unlikley partners.

To learn more visit or to learn more about Community Labor United go here

A new study released today by Ceres, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and the Clean Economy Network shows that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies (such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act) would create jobs, increase consumers’ income, and strengthen the U.S. economy.

The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Illinois, Yale University and the University of California. It found that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies would create as many as 1.9 million new jobs nationally, increase annual household income up to $1,175 per year and boost GDP up to $111 billion by 2020.

The study also looked at state-level job creation. It found that national climate and clean energy policies could create up to 61,000 jobs in Ohio; 78,000 jobs in Pennsylvania; and 45,000 jobs in Indiana.

The national and state-level results can be viewed at the E2 website

Weatherization and job training got a big boost today in New York. Governor David Paterson signed the Green Jobs/Green New York Act.

The Green Jobs/Green New York Act (A.8901/S.5888) establishes a revolving loan fund for energy efficient retrofits and green jobs training programs. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will run the programs using proceeds from carbon emission auctions credits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Governor Patterson said:

I have laid out a New Economy jobs plan that will help to put New Yorkers back to work through innovation and technology, and have set a goal to meet 45 percent of our electricity needs through energy efficiency and renewables by 2015. The Green Jobs/Green New York Act is an important tool in achieving these energy and economic goals.

Governor Paterson also announced the following:

• $7 million to launch a Green Jobs Corps programs that will provide green job skills training and subsidized employment opportunities for public assistance recipients and low-income individuals.
• A New York focused green jobs website – www.greencareersny.com – that will house job opportunities as well as training programs.

New York Apollo was at the bill signing and was very excited to have been thanked for helping with its passage.

As Congress considers sweeping energy and climate legislation, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio has developed a strategy to improve the long-term competitiveness of American manufacturers and increase domestic capacity for manufacturing clean energy technologies. It’s called the “Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act of 2009.” You can help!

Write a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper.

Helpful Hints on Writing a Letter to the Editor.

Sample Points for IMPACT Act.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, more than 150 businesses from 45 states sent representatives to Washington, D.C., to advocate for comprehensive climate and energy policies that will create millions of new jobs, cut carbon pollution, restore America’s competitiveness, and increase our economic and national security. The Apollo Alliance helped recruit more than a dozen businesses to participate in the advocacy effort, including SunRise Solar of Indiana, Infinia of Washington, Gamesa of Pennsylvania and others.

Businesses understand that the economy is in the beginning stages of a transition from fossil fuel-based economy to one based on clean energy. It’s time for the government to realize this so that the United States can be a world leader in the new economy and not be left behind.

“Comprehensive climate legislation will benefit our planet and economy and, if done right, signal the rebirth of American manufacturing,” said Bill Keith, founder and CEO of Indiana-based Sunrise Solar, Inc. “With clean energy demand on the rise, domestic manufacturers need a level playing field so we can ensure that American workers are building the parts and systems of the clean energy economy.”

The Senators from Indiana didn’t meet with Bill, but his Michigan counterparts had more luck. And it was made clear that manufacturing states need to be taken care of in order to get the votes. The ultimate result of remains to be seen. We hope, of course, that the businesses convinced their congressional leaders that a climate/energy legislation similar to the ACES Act is what they need to take the reigns of the new clean energy economy.

Read coverage from The New York Times and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Thanks to CERES and Climate Action Network for organizing the lobby day.

At the Midwest Governors Association Jobs and Energy Forum today, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle presented several documents that reflect a renewed effort by the Midwestern states to work together as a region to strengthen the clean energy economy. The governors see the clean energy economy as creating an “enormous opportunity for the Midwest to build on its historic strengths and reclaim its position as a manufacturing powerhouse and a place of innovation and meaningful work.”

In the Midwestern Energy Infrastructure Accord, the governors lay out their plans to develop a robust clean energy infrastructure, which include:

*Expanding electric transmission capacity in support of renewable energy development and distributed generation.
*Adopting smart grid technologies and capabilities.
*Building out carbon capture and storage at a commercial scale.
*Deploying refueling systems for biofuels and other advanced low-carbon transportation fuels.

The governors’ Platform for Creating and Retaining Midwestern Jobs in the New Energy Economy calls for the adoption and alignment of energy, economic and workforce policies that position the region to compete with and lead other regions in creating and retaining jobs in the new energy economy. It also calls for increased and optimized public- and private-sector investments in education, training, manufacturing and other areas that support jobs and career opportunities in clean energy.

Read these and other documents from the MWG Association Jobs and Energy Forum.

Pacific Gas & Electric announced today that it was leaving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of “irreconcilable differences” over climate change. The Chamber has opposed climate change legislation going so far as to push for a hearing on whether or not climate change is man-made.

PG&E is the third large utility to break ranks with a business group over climate policy. Duke Energy and France’s Alstom left the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy earlier this month.

Full disclosure: Nancy McFadden, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for PG&E Corporation, is on our board of directors.

Photo courtesy of gypsyrock / CC BY 2.0

Oregon Apollo Alliance strongly supported HB 2626, which was signed into law on July 22, 2009 by Governor Ted Kulongoski. The bill - also known as the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act of 2009 (EEAST), - is a tool for Oregon that will create good local jobs and give its economy a boost. The EEAST Act is a low-cost, voluntary loan program that can be applied to weatherizing existing residences and small businesses and to producing renewable energy. The loan payment will be offset by the energy savings created. EEAST will create 1500 jobs this summer alone.

You can read a summary and explanation of EEAST written by Barbara Byrd and Elena Foshay.

America’s #2?  The letters and numbers don’t even seem to fit together, do they?  However, by at least one measure, we are.  Read on to find out the links between America’s competiveness, innovation, and what it all has to do with manufacturing.

The recent announcement by the World Economic Forum, in its 2009/2010 Global Competiveness Report, that Switzerland has supplanted the United States as the #1 Most Competitive economy went largely unreported.  This startling news was not published on the front pages of our major newspapers, our TV anchors did not announce it on the nightly news, nor did the blogosphere light up from coast to coast.  

Despite this lack of attention, it is something every American should take notice of. 

It is no secret that our economy has a host of long-term structural defects that have built up due to decades of neglect:  a crumbling infrastructure, enormous trade deficits, declining educational attainment of our youth, and the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs.  What might be a secret to many is that there is a strong connection between these lost manufacturing jobs and the just how innovative our entire economy is.

Our ability to be an innovative nation is clearly linked to our ability to compete, long-term, in the global economy.  This is a no-brainer.  What is surprising to most of us is the key role that our manufacturing sector plays in being an engine of innovation in our economy.

When many of us think about manufacturing, we think about blue-collar workers pushing the same button on a machine 12,000 times during their 8-hour shift.  This image is just plain wrong.  In fact, 9% of all those working in manufacturing are scientists and engineers.   Another key metric showing manufacturing’s contribution to our innovation:  in 2003, manufacturing accounted for 60% of all US spending on Research and Development.  Yes, 60%.  As for the line workers, they use a wealth of experience and education everyday to troubleshoot and solve problems on the factory floor; which forms the wellspring of much innovation.  Bottom line:  there is a lot of innovative capacity built into our manufacturing sector today.

And, this investment pays off in productivity.  From 1997 to 2005, productivity in manufacturing went up 4.6% per year.  If you don’t study these figures, it may not sound like much.  However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that rate of productivity gain is 60% higher than the private, non-farm economy overall.  The overall lose of innovation, much of it tied to our loss of manufacturing capacity (and investment in Research and Development), should be a cause of alarm for all Americans.

Thankfully, there is some good news.  The clean energy sector—a sector that the Apollo Alliance has long promoted public and private investment in—is hitting an innovative hot streak.  As reported here , the number of clean energy patents in the United States hit an all-time high at 274.  It should be no surprise that American ingenuity is alive and well.  Our task is to ensure that there is continued investment in our most innovative sectors of our economy to ensure American long-term competiveness in the world’s economy.  

Today, most Americans would quickly name clean energy as a sector worthy for such investment…and rightly so.  However, more of us should include manufacturing as well.  Fortunately, that is starting to happen—with the Apollo Alliance’s able assistance of course! 

–By Ron Ruggiero