Green Jobs Resources
Though much of Apollo’s work is focused on systemic changes in clean energy and green-collar job policy and practices, our work also is particularly useful to people who don’t have a job or are looking for a new one. The following green-collar job information resources should help.
Recovery Act Information Center
First is our own Recovery Act Information Center, which provides up to date information on how and where federal investments in clean energy and green-collar job training from the $787 billion stimulus bill is and will be spent. The important section for job seekers is Federal Guidance and Implementation Resources, which provides a state-by-state breakdown of clean energy investment. Other features in that section provide guidance on how cities are using Recovery Act dollars for clean energy programs and projects. Much of the Recovery Act spending will be decided by and funded through states and municipalities. The jobs developed with Recovery Act clean energy investments are and will generally be associated with existing state and local clean energy programs, and with contractors and private companies executing the energy efficiency upgrades, transit modernization, fix-it-first road and bridge construction, and the jobs to support these and other activities. You should also note that local one-stop career centers also are a good resource for find jobs generated by the Recovery Act.
Green Jobs Boards
A host of online job board resources are available for green-collar job seekers. They include the Green-Collar Blog, which hosts a jobs board with a strong list of online sites to locate and apply for jobs. Other green-collar job seeking resources include Green Dream Jobs, GreenBiz.com, EcoJobs, and EnvironmentalCareer.com., Sustain Lane’s Green-Collar Jobs Board, CareerBuilder and Renewable Energy Jobs. The solar energy industry association has a jobs board. The University of Michigan has job directory and a Directory of Green Job Training Programs that is searchable by state.
Take a look at our own Apollo Alliance jobs page for opportunities, and the jobs pages of other non-profits, community groups, businesses, and government organizations working in the clean energy space.
Volunteer Service
Opportunities are available to volunteer for a clean energy program or project through Americorps, Senior Corps, the Clean Energy Service Corps or other such program.
Online Clean Energy Information
There are dozens and dozens of online sites that cover the clean energy business and industrial sector from every conceivable perspective. Greener Design, for instance, offers news on businesses incorporating clean energy and efficiency to create sustainable products and practices and is one of the truly useful such sites. The American Wind Energy Association site is here. The Investor Network on Climate Risk, a project of CERES, is here. Businesses for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy, another CERES project, has good stuff. The Iowa Energy Office site is a good example of how states are promoting clean energy investment, a valuable way to understand where job development will occur. So is the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The Environmental Defense Fund maps green companies across the country.
Green-Collar Job Research and Reports
The Apollo Alliance defines a green-collar job as well paid, career track jobs that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality. Like traditional blue-collar jobs, green-collar jobs range from low-skill, entry-level positions to high-skill, higher-paid jobs, and include opportunities for advancement in both skills and wages. The Green-Collar Jobs section of our Green Room provides research, reports, and articles about the range of green-collar opportunities and where they are occurring. Last year, the Apollo Alliance published a report on the development of Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities. We published Greener Pathways to detail economic and workforce development opportunities in the energy efficiency, wind, and biofuels sectors. Two years ago Apollo published Community Jobs in the Green Economy that, among other things, outlines a range of green industries that exist in the U.S., and the types and number of jobs associated with each.
The Environmental Defense Fund, one of our Apollo Alliance supporters, published a useful guide to green-collar careers and how and where they will unfold in the coming years. Jim Cassio published a Green Careers Resource Guide. TriplePundit.com posted a map of green companies. And our own Signature Stories page provides a national snapshot of the companies and existing jobs in the clean energy sector. Each story includes a ‘For More Information’ sidebar with email, telephone, and other contact details.
Green for All has a resource page for green-collar jobs.
Your Knowledge
You also can help. Tell us what you know in the comment section below. The Apollo Alliance Web site reaches tens of thousands of online visitors.
“Who Is Running Your Art Department?”
All kinds of comments in this week’s Feedback feature. From critiques of our logo and look to an investment house urging us to take a look at a $50 million clean energy fund, there’s plenty of thought from supporters and critics in the Apollo nation. Enjoy.
Who Is Running Your Art Department?
Since I’ve seen your emails and your logo’s and your choice of colors. I’m all about the red/white/and blue as a national rallying point. However, you are ignoring the main color you should be focused on. THAT WOULD BE GREEN.
And your logo looks so corporate. Where is your organic looking component? Organic, green, growing, energy from bio-renewable plants. I just don’t get your whole look. When I open your emails I am so disappointed visually - lots of grays, black and white and gray, red-white-blue and grey. When you put just a tad of green as in the lettering of your Daily Digest but have that lettering imposed over a high dose of newspaper grey, and black and white keyboard. The green is just lost in terms of things that grow in nature. I have to force myself to look at your typed content because your emails are visually boring and totally non-leaning to growing things.
After The Recovery Act
We asked, following the enactment last week of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, what more does the nation need to do to pursue clean energy development? What’s next for Congress, for your states, for you or your organizations? Here’s what you said:
Apollo Feedback: Detroit Bailout Raises Support, Ire
Last week we let you know that in partnership with our members the Apollo Alliance supported government intervention to rescue the American auto industry with a $25 billion bridge loan. We reached this conclusion knowing of the industry’s long-time recalcitrance on fuel mileage, climate safeguards, product lines, and the imperious behavior of its chief executives, who in case you don’t know by now, flew to Washington last week on corporate jets and without any clear plan for how they would use the money.
Read more
Apollo Feedback: What Obama Should Do First, Part Two
We asked what President-elect Obama should do first. Almost 100 of you from the Apollo Nation responded. There are lots of good ideas here in the second part of our Feedback feature highlighting your suggestions for the new president. The first part is here.
Apollo Feedback: What Comes First For New President? Green-Collar Jobs, Economy, Clean Energy, Says Apollo Nation
When we asked what comes first for President-elect Barack Obama, almost 100 of you responded. The Economy. The War. Green-collar jobs. Sun. Wind. Zero-emission vehicles. Transit. One writer suggested Just For Men, to cover the new president’s sure-to-gray-hair. Take a look. So many of you replied that we divided the responses into two Feedback features. This is part one. Part two is here. Thanks so much.
Apollo Feedback: What’s America Listening To When It Comes To Energy and the Economy?
“I am really starting to see a grassroots movement towards a change in our energy policy,” writes Chris Hurst of Sonora, California. “People are just not happy with the status quo.”
Apollo Feedback: On Energy Pragmatism: Yes, No, But
“Communities across the country are crying out for answers to their energy concerns,” writes Joe White of Atlanta. “We need a national clean education program that includes public education, community organizations, local government and business involved.” Read more
Apollo Feedback: Questions on Energy Sincerity, McCain, T. Boone, and Peak Oil
Apollo nation skeptical — about Obama too
We’re a tough nation to convince. Is T. Boone Pickens sincere about ending America’s oil addiction, or conveniently spending millions to leverage more billions. Some of us don’t like Jonh McCain’s energy ideas. Others think Barack Obama is foolish. And lurking in the background are concerns about peak oil, food crops used for fuel, and how utilities dominate state Legislatures. This week’s Apollo Feedback has all that and more. Read more
Apollo Feedback: Fuel Prices Take Toll
No Assurance Yet That Lawmakers Ready to Help
One of our primary goals here at the Apollo Alliance is to provide a forum for dialogue about the most important issues confronting America: The weakening condition of our economy, rising global temperatures, and the diminished strength of the American middle class. Each of these is closely tied to energy supply and price. In this week’s Apollo Feedback, readers put forward more sound ideas about what we ought to do to fix the problem. If you want to join the conversation write to Keith Schneider at keith@apolloalliance.org, and view the other Feedback features here: Read more
