The New Orleans green-collar training program is an example of both the need and opportunity to train American workers for the myriad jobs that the Apollo Alliance and many labor economists anticipate in the new clean energy economy. Those programs are likely to receive a huge boost this month when President-elect Barack Obama makes public a mammoth economic stimulus proposal — perhaps as large as $700 billion to $1 trillion over two years — to put 2.5 million people back to work. Congressional leaders say that the new president will propose spending $100 billion or more over two years on clean energy development.

In The New Apollo Program, released in September, and in a second proposal made public last month, the Apollo Economic Recovery Act, the Apollo Alliance has called on Congress and the president-elect to spend $250 million annually on green-collar job training, double the amount authorized by Congress in 2007. The Apollo Alliance also has proposed a $50 billion a year program of investments in transit, improving energy efficiency in buildings, weatherizing homes, modernizing the electric grid, and in manufacturing clean energy equipment and next generation vehicles that would create 5 million new jobs. The Apollo Alliance also supports the Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act, a proposal co-sponsored by Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown to retool manufacturing plants and train green-collar workers.

In New Orleans, the green-collar training program draws young people without substantial work histories in at the ground floor, giving them the training to start building a career, access to further education, and showing them that they have a valuable role in the community. The New Orleans program embodies the vision of Van Jones, the founder and president of Green For All, and a board member of the Apollo Alliance, who is convinced that training inner city young people to embrace new green-collar jobs will provide what he calls “pathways out of poverty.”

“We’re seeing them develop both a passion for what they are doing and a real stewardship mentality,” said Sally Prouty, president of the Corps Network.
The corps makes a special effort to reach out to young people who have been in the court system, and so far, says Prouty, the effort is paying off. While nationally the recidivism rate for young offenders is between 40 and 80 percent, for corps members it’s slightly less than 9 percent.
“If we only look at keeping our young people free and productive there’s tremendous reason to do this,” said Prouty. “We really believe there will be ever-increasing opportunities in the green economy so that’s where we’re focusing.”

Although classroom time is unpaid, corps members are paid for their labor, up to 25 hours a week, and receive a $1,250 educational stipend upon completion of their service. In the case of those finishing Limitless Vistas’ certification program, starting wages range from $14 to $18 an hour, with room for advancement.

“It’s a lot better than getting a job in fast food,” said Gordon.

As important as the training, he says, is the placement assistance members get. Some are continuing in formal education, others are going straight into the workforce, and yet others are entering labor apprenticeship programs. “The local AFL-CIO has been absolutely super to work with. They are a great partner.”

For more information:
Sally Prouty
President of The Corps Network
Phone: 202-737-6272

John Nichols of The Nation posted his list of Most Valuable Progressives.

The winner of MOST VALUABLE STATE OR REGIONAL GROUP:

Here’s what he said:

Bridging the gap between sometimes esoteric national debates about economic issues and the real-life challenges faced by people living in Cleveland, Youngstown and Dayton, Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit research and advocacy organization that pushes the envelope on debates about tax policy and the funding of essential education and safety-net programs. Intellectually rigorous, yet always accessible in its approach, this group has produced more than 160 reports that have given Ohio’s progressive activists and legislators the tools they need to challenge corporate spin and pressure tactics. In tight economic times, groups such as Policy Matters Ohio are absolutely essential players in life-and-death debates about how state and local governmental agencies should respond to revenue shortfalls and rising demands for services. PMO’s founding executive director, Amy Hanauer, is great at making the link between the initiatives of national groups with which she works — the Economic Policy Institute, Demos and the Apollo Alliance — and local and legislative policymakers in Ohio, moving progressive priorities out of Washington to the communities where good ideas can and must be turned into practical programs. As an example of what Policy Matters Ohio does, check out the group’s great report: Limiting Loopholes: A dozen tax breaks Ohio can do without.

You can check out other Apollo friends on the list including The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Rep. Hilda Solis, Jamie Galbraith.

–Heidi Pickman

Join us February 4 – 6, 2009, in Washington, D.C. to connect with more than 2,000 government leaders and decision-makers, as well as business, industry, labor and environmental organizations for three days of educational programs, speakers and networking opportunities. Help forge the agenda for the new green economy.

Conference-goers also have the opportunity to head to Capitol Hill February 4 for Green Jobs Advocacy Day to educate lawmakers about the enormous potential of the green economy.  On February 5, companies, academic programs, non-profits and government agencies can highlight the latest innovations in the green economy at the Green Jobs Expo.

Los Angeles Times
January 4, 2009
Why Obama’s Green Jobs Plan Might Work

Boyslife.org (Boy Scout’s of America)
December 29, 2008
Hot Spot: Jerome Ringo

BlipTV
December 24, 2008
Jerome Ringo Keynotes Renewable Energy Day

Bright Green Blog (Christian Science Monitor)
December 22, 2008
Obama’s Labor Pick A Green-Jobs Advocate

This Home Is Green blog
December 22, 2008
Blowing Gusts Of Wind, MI And NJ Tackle Unemployment, Hawaii Makes The Switch

Scientific America
December 2008
Green-Collar Jobs–The Future Of The Global Workplace

Open Media Boston
December 19, 2008
Green Justice Coalition Has A Credible Strategy To Help The Environment While Helping The Economy

The Denver Post
December 18, 2008
Building A Better, Greener Economy

Jesse Fox blog
December 17, 2008
Green New Deal 2009

Mother Earth News blog
December 16, 2008
Tell Obama’s Energy Czar To Support Renewable Energy

The Huffington Post
December 15, 2008
Greening Workers’ Wallets

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
December 15, 2008
Experts Predict Push For Biofuels

Gaia Community blog
December 15, 2008
Obama’s New Energy Chief

Peter B. Collins Show
December 12, 2008
Phil Angelides Lays Out The Apollo Economic Recovery Act

Biofuels Digest
December 12, 2008
Apollo Alliance Proposes New Apollo Program For Green Energy, Jobs, Technology

ClimateArk.org blog
December 11, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs–The Future Of The Global Workplace

Top 5 Stocks blog
December 9, 2008
What a “Green Recovery” Stimulus Means For You

BPL Today
December 9, 2008
Apollo Alliance Lists ‘Smart Grid’ Among Top Policy Priorities

Greenbiz.com
December 9, 2008
U.S. Needs $500 Billion Clean Tech Investment, 5 Million Green Jobs

Dirt Diggers Digest
December 9, 2008
Chicago Sit-In And The Future Of Green Jobs

The New Era blog
December 9, 2008
Apollo Alliance: The Renewable Energy Industry

SmartPower.org blog
December 8, 2008
Grass Roots Support For Green Jobs

Sustainable Business Design blog
December 8, 2008
The 2008 Forecast Earth Hot List

The Boston Globe
December 7, 2008
Coalition Seeking “Green New Deal”

Common Cause blog
December 7, 2008
Apollo Alliance: Big Oil and Senator Inhofe Blocking Clean Energy

The Sacramento Bee
November 30, 2008
Sacramento Could Get Boost From Green Economy

TreeHugger.com
November 29, 2008
New Deal 2009? Three Plans to Rescue the Economy and the Earth with Public Transportation

Invest Green blog
November 28, 2008
Projects Green: Apollo Alliance Leads The Way

CT Environmental Headlines blog
November 28, 2008
Obama Is Ready To Move On Clean Energy

Environmental Valuation & Cost-Benefit News blog
November 26, 2008
Economic Stimulus: The Case for “Green” Infrastructure, Energy Security and “Green” Jobs

The Sacramento Bee
November 20, 2008
My View: New Strategy To Rally Nation Under Green Flag

The New York Times - Dot Earth blog
November 19, 2008
10 Earthly Ideas On A Budget

The Christian Science Monitor
November 19, 2008
World Wants Green Action, Despite Costs
Reprinted in The Taiwan News

The Detroit News
November 18, 2008
Apollo Alliance Doesn’t Want Detroit To Die

WritingInTheWild blog
November 17, 2008
Apollo Alliance

Workday Minnesota
November 16, 2008
Long-term Measures Need To Restore Economy

California Green Solutions Newsletter
November 2008
Clean Energy Is Not A Mirage

CityStates blog
November 14, 2008
Trouble Ahead for Alternative Energy?

The Huffington Post
November 14, 2008
Quit Bailing. Start Building.

Now (PBS)
November 14, 2008
The Future of Green Jobs

Gristmill Blog
November 13, 2008
Misinformed: ‘Oh my god, they admitted it’

The Writing Corner blog
November 13, 2008
Apollo Alliance On Obama And Energy

Oakland Business Review (Michigan)
November 13, 2008
Michigan, Auto Industry Called To Arms In Green Movement

Morning Edition (NPR)
November 12, 2008
Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings

The Christian Science Monitor
November 12, 2008
A Closer Look At Obama’s Energy Plan

Detroit Free Press
November 10, 2008
Boost Economy With Clean Energy Industry

Gristmill Blog
November 5, 2008
Enviro Reax

Environmental News Service
November 5, 2008
High Environmental Hopes Riding on Obama’s Green Promises

Renewable Energy World
November 5, 2008
Financing Our Clean Energy Future

Green Pepper blog
November 5, 2008
The Change We Really Do Need

The Nation
November 4, 2008
Transformational Presidency
reprinted on The Huffington Post

Blast Magazine
November 1, 2008
Welcome To Green Collar America

North Star Writer’s Group
October 31, 2008
Green Economy Rises Out of Financial Sector Ashes

Reuters
October 30, 2008
Obama To Go ‘Green’, But Push Could Be Costly

The Nation
October 30, 2008
The Promise of Green Jobs

The Nation
October 29, 2008
Working Together for a Green New Deal

Sightline Daily(Northwest)
October 29, 2008
Green-Collar Stimulus 4

We Campaign Blog
October 29, 2008
Blowing Gusts Of Wind

Times Union (Albany)
October 26, 2008
A Green View Can Help Economy, Environment

Smart Power Blog
October 26, 2008
Jobs, Baby, Jobs

TC Palm (Florida)
October 26, 2008
Going Green Is A Long-Term Issue

Daily Sightline Blog
October 24, 2008
Jobs, Baby, Jobs!

BetterBlog
October 24, 2008
SVN Conference Report: The New Apollo Program

The Huffington Post
October 24, 2008
The Seventy Percent Solution

The Harvard Crimson
October 23, 2008
Captain Planet Economics

Alternet
October 23, 2008
Van Jones: How We Can Lead Our Country Out Of Crisis

The Huffington Post
October 23, 2008
What Is A Green-Collar Job

The Boston Globe
October 21, 2008
Why Green Jobs Are Our Future

The Oakland Tribune
October 20, 2008
Officials Celebrate Going Green In Oakland

The Providence Journal
October 20, 2008
Van Jones: Bioneers By The Bay And The Green Economy

MSN
October 17, 2008
Can He Really Create 5 Million Jobs?

Matter Network
October 17, 2008
Experts Say Renewable Energy Key to Economic Recovery

Midwest News: NWF blog
October 17, 2008
New Green Jobs Program To Benefit Michigan

Grist
October 16, 2008
Al’s Well That Ends Well

San Francisco Bike Blog
October 16, 2008
‘Build for America’ Plan Launched, San Francisco Edition

Detroit Free Press
October 16, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs Program Pushed, Aiming For 5 million Positions
Reprinted at ECO-BUSINESSWIRE.COM.

Policy Innovations
October 15, 2008
Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate

Beacon Broadside
October 15, 2008
A Green Bailout

The Nature Conservancy
October 14, 2008
Jerome Ringo Plenary Address

Keyboard Culture Blog
October 10, 2008
Success of Green Jobs Now Nationwide Day of Action Points to Clean Energy Future

The Peter B. Collins Show
October 10, 2008
Phil Angelides on The New Apollo Program

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation blog
October 10, 2008
Newark’s Green Future Summit

People’s Weekly World
October 9, 2008
Apollo Alliance: Green-Collar Jobs Are The Future

WOSU Radio (Columbus, OH)
October 8, 2008
Gov. Strickland Backs Nationwide Green-Collar Job Initiative
This report was rebroadcast on WVXU (Cincinnati, OH.)

The Columbus Dispatch
October 8, 2008
Apollo Project Aims For Energy

PolitickerOH
October 8, 2008
Strickland Helps Launch The New Apollo Program

Capitol Blog: Ohio Politics With Marc Kovac
October 8, 2008
Strickland and The New Apollo Program

California Progress Report
October 8, 2008
The New Apollo Program Takes New Path

KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny
October 7, 2008
Barbara Boxer On The New Apollo Program

The HuffingtonPost.com
October 7, 2008
Now For A Green Bailout:  Twice The Bang, Half The Bucks

KBOO,The Old Mole Variety Hour
October 6, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 5, 2008
The New Green Frontier

CBS5.com
October 5, 2008
The New Apollo Program To Create Green-Collar Jobs

KPIX-TV (San Francisco)
October 4, 2008
Senator Boxer Promotes Bay Area Eco-Friendly Business

KCBS All News 740 AM
October 4, 2008
Green Program To Create Jobs

DailyReview.com (Bay Area News Group)
October 4, 2008
Investment In Green-Collar Jobs Urged

Miami Herald
October 3, 2008
Green Jobs A Draw At Miami-Dade College Event

Forbes.com
October 1, 2008
Labor’s Green Energy Elevator Pitch

The Oakland Tribune
October 1, 2008
Green Jobs Training Program Set To Begin

GreenMuze.com eco-geek blog
October 1, 2008
Why Don’t We Bailout The Planet?

Washington Post Writers Group
September 28, 2008
Beyond Bailout: Reinventing in U.S.
Denver Post
Seattle Times

California Green Solutions
September 27, 2008
The New Apollo Program Solution For Clean Energy Jobs

TimesUnion.com The Green Blog (Albany, NY)
September 25, 2008
I’m Ready For My Green Job

The Star Press (central Indiana)
September 23, 2008
Green Movement’s Primary Color Is White

onearth.org (Natural Resources Defense Council Blog)
September 23, 2008
Green Is Every Color

Daily Newarker blog
September 23, 2008
Peak Oil And Newark‚s Green Revolution

The Nation
September 22, 2008
Give Main Street A Fair Shake

EcoFriendlyMagazine.com
September 21, 2008
Will The Greening Of  Newark Rejuvenate The Local Economy?

Carbon Tax Center Blog
September 21, 2008
Bloomberg, Economists, Greens Tell Ways & Means: Price Carbon Upstream, Distribute Revenues to Consumers

Lexington Herald-Leader
September 21, 2008
Fueling Kentucky’s Future

Green Technology Magazine
September 2008
Lighting The Way For New Technology

Social Enterprise Reporter
September 20, 2008
Newark’s Green Future Summit Concludes 9/15

The Star Press (central Indiana)
September 19, 2008
Living Lightly Fair Makes It Easy To Be Green

Green Career Central Blog
September 17, 2008
The New Apollo Program: An Economic Investment Strategy

NYC Climate Coalition
Act NOW!
September 17, 2008
Support Renewable Energy in the US with the Apollo Alliance!

Common Tragedies: Thoughts on Environmental Economics Blog
September 17, 2008
Ways and Means Hearing on Policy Options to Prevent Climate Change

Center For American Progress
September 17, 2008
Black Ministers Rally Action on Climate Change

Absolute Michigan
September 17, 2008
Five Million New Jobs

Green Career Central Blog
September 17, 2008
The New Apollo Program: An Economic Investment Strategy

CSRwire
September 16, 2008
In Wake Of Economic Meltdown, Congress Considers Green Recovery

Times Union (Albany, NY)
September 16, 2008
Green Jobs Blowin’ In The Wind

Greenwire
September 16, 2008
GREEN CITIES: Newark Relying on Energy Initiatives to Bring Jobs, Revise Image

Green Jersey
September 15, 2008
Newark’s Eco-Future

Stark Raving Viking Blog
September 14, 2008
The Apollo Alliance

The Capital Times
September 14, 2008
Rally Supports Green Jobs To Boost Economy

Newark Star Ledger
September 14, 2008
Could Newark Flower As Eco-City?

The Daily Newarker
September 14, 2008
Newark’s Green Dream

Progressive States Network YouTube Channel
September 13, 2008
Jerome Ringo (1) - Building a Progressive Majority In The State1

NJBIZ.com
September 12, 2008
Newark Holds Green Future Summit

NJ.com
September 12, 2008
Newark Hosts ‘Green Future’ Forum

Kauai Garden Island News
September 9, 2008
Political Will Problem

The New York Times
September 2, 2008
A Balancing Act On Emission

Red, Green, and Blue
September 1, 2008
Reconfiguring Labor Day

Living on Earth
August 30, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs Hot Topics

Rocky Mountain News
August 29, 2008
Rocky Truth Squad

Heritage Foundation
August 28, 2008
What Will Central Planners Choose On Energy?

Denver Post
August 28, 2008
Law Firms Press Flesh

Denver Post
August 27, 2008
Goodies To Parties

InsideSocal.com
August 25, 2008
FromThe DNC

August 27, 2008
Democrats Drill McCain

Left In Alabama.com
August 27, 2008
GreenTech & Alternative Energy

Physics Today
August 27, 2008
Convention Day Two

The American Prospect
August 26, 2008
Bracken Hendricks: Clean Energy Evangelist

Santa Barbara Press Democrat
August 26, 2008
Pelosi Addresses California Delegation At Convention

Alternet.org
August 23, 2008
What Will The Green Economy Look Like?

TheMediaConsortium.com
August 21, 2008
What Will The Green Economy Look Like

Public Affairs
August 17, 2008
Coalitions Plan Day of Action on the Environment

The HuffingtonPost.com
August 14, 2008
For Conservatives, “All of the Above” Means “No Clean Energy”

The Nation
August 13, 2008
Progressives In The Obama Moment

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
August 12, 2008
N.Y. Apollo Participates In Clean Energy Bus Tour

Post Independent (Glennwood Springs, CO)
August 11, 2008
Renewable Energy Event In Aspen

The California Aggie
August 11, 2008
California Universities Gather To Discuss Sustainability

OfficePolitics.com
August 10, 2008
Wanted: Green-Collar Workers

The National (United Arab Emirates)
August 9, 2008
U.S. Seeks Rehab For Addiction To Foreign Oil

NewEnergyNews
August 8, 2008
Apollo On New Energy

Middleboro Review
August 8, 2008
Paris And New Energy

warontheright blog
August 7, 2008
Email To Parker Griffith On The Climate Crisis

GreenTidings blog
August 6, 2008
Environmental Happenings

orangejuice blog
August 6, 2008
How Can You Go Wrong With The Man Who Gave You The Seatbelt?

republican blogspot blog
August 5, 2008
Why The Future Doesn’t Look Good For Republicans

midskina-ano blog
August 5, 2008
San Luis Obispo

Daily Kos
August 4, 2008
Delay That Legislation, Senators. Wait ‘Til ‘09

SanLuisObispo.com
August 4, 2008
Delay That Legislation, Senators. Wait ‘Til ‘09

SanLuisObispo.com
August 4, 2008
Delay That Legislation, Senators. Wait ‘Til ‘09

LeeCantrellSpeaks blog
August 3, 2008
Will New Oil Drilling Save Us?

Christian Science Monitor
August 1, 2008
High Gas Prices Boost Bus Travel

People’s World Weeklyl
July 29, 2008
Offshore Drilling Won’t Lower Gas Prices

PWW.org
July 28, 2008
Green Electricity By 2018?

People’s World Weekly
July 28, 2008
Green Electricity By 2018?

SpikeSpisak’s aol journal
July 28, 2008
Oakland Builds Green Jobs

Peter Drier’s blog
July 28, 2008
Abolish HUD?

Kitsap Sun
July 25, 2008
Gore Might Not Be Right To Lead The Charge For Clean Energy?

ChicagoRenewable
Energy.com
July 25, 2008
Invest, Don’t Drill

Local Energy News
July 23, 2008
Good Energy Policy Begins With Good Questions

greenthinking blog
July 23, 2008
Tell Congress to Invest, Not Drill

chimera-gaia.blogspot.com blog
July 21, 2008
Find Appropriate Standards For Energy

The Guardian (UK)
July 18, 2008
Money Talks On Climate Change

chezremi blog
July 18, 2008
Clean Vision

taylormarsh.com
July 15, 2008
To Drill Offshore or Not to Drill?

California Conversations
Summer 2008
Living and Investing Green

CourierPostOnline.com
July 14, 2008
Check Growth Sector For Jobs In Demand

HuffingtonPost.com
July 14, 2008
What Bush Didn’t Promise

Bluestem Prarie blog
July 13, 2008
Old News About Oil Drilling Job Numbers

Shreveport Times
July 12, 2008
Today’s Growth Industries Have Plenty Of Jobs

Real America blog
July 12, 2008
Apollo Alliance Offers
Good News

shinygreenbutton blog
July 10, 2008
Who the HE double toothpicks is Jerome Ringo?

Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor’s Website
July 10, 2008
Creating Green-Collar Jobs in Washington State

stumpysfindings blog
July 10, 2008
A capsule quote: nod to Apollo

americangreen blog
July 9, 2008
GreenCollar Social Network

Circle of Blue – circleofblue.org
July 9, 2008
U.S. Faces Era of Water Scarcity

The Costco Connection
July 2008
The Green in the Machine

GreenSkeptic blog
July 4, 2008
Reblogging: A Call for “Interdependence Day” from 2005

cometskateboards.com
July 4, 2008
Hillary Clinton visits
with e2e and Comet

californiagreensolutions
.com
July 3, 2008
Happy Sustainability Day

The Huffingpost.com
July 1, 2008
Obama’s New Generation of Organizers

Polemic A Day blog
June 27, 2008
What’s Our Oil Doing Under Their Sand

The HuffingtonPost.com
June 27, 2008
Obama & Telecom
Immunity

The News-Gazette
June 26, 2008
Benefits Of ‘Green’
Industry

The Aspen Daily News
June 26, 2008
Aspen Energy Day

The Washington Times
June 25, 2008
Obama Stands Firm;
McCain Rides Wave For Energy Solutions

BeyondChron.org
June 26, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs: Industrial Policy and a Society with a Future

June 24, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs Pledge
Local leaders are driving the country toward a green future.

BlueNC.com
June 24, 2008
How To End The Recession: Labor and Renewable Energy

mongabay.com
June 23, 2008
Van Jones Interview: Towards a Multicolored Green Movement

theday.com (Connecticut)
June 22, 2008
McCain Drilling Change Should Concern Voters

East Bay Business Times
June 20, 2008
18 Graduate From RTCC Green Jobs Program in Oakland

jimmathers.com
June 19, 2008
Green Collar Jobs

CNNmoney.com
June 18, 2008
Shooting the Moon on Renewables

U.S. Energy Association
June 13, 2008
Energy Efficiency Resonates with Presidential Candidates

Celsias
June 13, 2008
Green Job Market Vibrant

EarthFirst.com
June 13, 2008
Top 25 Hottest Guys in Green

RenewableEnerg
World.com
June 11, 2008
Our Newest “Greatest Generation” Opportunity

The New Republic
June 10, 2008
Why Greens Are Glad The Climate Bill Tanked

Book Calendar blog
June 7, 2008
Clean Technology

redOrbit – Science, Space, Technology, Health News and Information
June 6, 2008
Home Grown Energy Is Not Just a Pipe Dream

Kauai World
June 5, 2008
Kaua’i Council Considering Energy Investment

AFSCME Info Center
June 5, 2008
Labor and Global Warming Legislation

BuffaloRising.com
June 5, 2008
Job Opportunities For The Green Economy

Vail Trail Weekly
June 4, 2008
Vail Resorts’ 10% ‘Energy Layoff’

Wisconsin Public Radio’s Here On Earth
June 3, 2008
Green Collar Jobs

KLFY-TV (Lafayette, LA)
June 1, 2008
Local (Jerome Ringo) Advocates for Going Green

Public Works Solutions Blog
May 30, 2008
Green Energy Part of the Solution to Cut Green House Gases

Green Collar Manufacturing Blog
May 29, 2008
Promise for Urban and Rural Revitalization

The Louisville Eccentric Observer
May 28, 2008
The Force of New Green

msnbc.com
May 26, 2008
Green Industries Offer Job Growth Opportunities

kauaiworld.com
May 25, 2008
Hawaii Apollo: Is Hydroelectricity A Potential Power Source

The Toledo Times
May 25, 2008
Apollo’s Fire: Solutions To The Energy Crisis

CNNMoney.com
May 22, 2008
First Wind Energy Company IPO Planned In The U.S.

Workforce Development blog
May 22, 2008
Apollo Alliance: A Resource For Jobs In The Energy Sector

Pacific News Service
May 19, 2008
Ringo Keynotes At Hawaii Build & Buy Green Conference

San Jose Mercury News
May 19, 2008
Lieberman: Climate Security Act Apollo Project For Energy Independence

Foreign Policy in Focus
May 16, 2008
Global Green Jobs

Arkansas Business Journal
May 14, 2008
Jerome Ringo: Featured Speaker At AK USGBC

World Watch Institute
May 14, 2008
Green Jobs Find International Support

Las Cruces Sun-News
May 14, 2008
Mayors, Local Leaders Want To Take Lead On Climate Change

Bloomberg.com
May 13, 2008
Obama, Clinton `Green’ Workforce Pledges May Fall Short on Jobs

greenbiz.com
May 11, 2008
Wanted: Green MBAs

Sedona.biz
May 10, 2008
Green-Collar Jobs

KSFY, South Dakota
May 8, 2008
Clinton in South Dakota: Apollo Program for American Renewable Energy

Oakland Tribune
May 7, 2008
Phil Angelides Doing What He Believes

Ithaca Times
May 7, 2008
The Green Team: Fast Growing Green-Collar Jobs

The American Prospect
May 2008
The Green Gap: Green Collar Jobs For Inner City Residents

Washingtonian Magazine
April 2008
Apollo’s Jerome Ringo honored by Washington’s premier regional magazine
30 People Changing the Environment in Washington

The American Prospect
May 2008
The Green Gap: Green Collar Jobs For Inner City Residents

The New Republic
04/30/08
Green-Collar Blues

Times Herald-Record (lower Hudson Valley & Catskills, NY)
04/27/08
Sustainable Living: Grads Should Consider Green-Collar Job

San Jose Mercury News
April 27, 2008
Prepare Kids for Green Collar Jobs

Connecticut Post
April 25, 2008
Green Jobs Can’t be Outsourced

Fast Company
April 18, 2008
“I’m Bad, I’m Slick”

Campus Progress
April 17, 2008
Sustainable Punk

Celsias Radio
April 16, 2008
Phil Angelides on Green-Collar Jobs

Oakland Tribune
April 8, 2008
Oakland-Based Movement At Forefront of A Green Campaign

Washingtonian Magazine
April 2008
Apollo’s Jerome Ringo honored by Washington’s premier regional magazine

Utne Reader
April 2008
Heartland: A Leader is Born

Inside Counsel
April 2008
Strange Bedfellows

New York Times
March 26, 2008
Millions of Jobs of a Different Color

Black Enterprise
February 21, 2008
Inspiring the Masses

Business Week
February 11, 2008
America’s Green Policy Vacuum

The Columbian
January 24, 2008
State’s top industries warm to Gregoire’s climate change legislation

How About a Real Democratic Stimulus?

Strange Bedfellows - How business and labor are learning to love environmentalism

Welcome to Green-Collar America

Greening of US is a chance to cash in

The Green-Collar Solution

Clinton sees global warming fight as a way to create jobs, opportunity

New Book Claims Clean Energy Industries Create New Jobs

The Green Jobs & Infrastructure Act will stimulate the U.S. economy through the following proposed investments:

1.    A $50 billion loan program for manufacturing plants in order to help them retool or retrain workers to produce clean energy and energy efficiency components or end products.

2.    Provide $6 billion to build upon the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program to provide for cities, municipalities and states to conduct energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.  The Act specifically encourages these entities to implement public-private large-scale, multi-building retrofit projects for residential homes and businesses.

3.    Increase appropriation for the Green Jobs Act, authorized in the 2007 EISA, to $250 million per year to provide job training and workforce investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy installations.

4.    Provide $300 million per year to fund a Clean Energy Service Corps, located in the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The estimated economic impact of the program in one year includes:

• $56.55 billion in investments in energy efficiency and green-collar jobs.
• $2.3 billion in residential and commercial energy savings.
• $120 billion in industry revenue.
• 334,000 direct and 908,600 indirect jobs, including 60,000 construction jobs and 274,000 manufacturing jobs.
• Training and paid volunteer service opportunities for 295,000 young adults and seniors.

Investing in Domestic Manufacturing — $50 billion
The United States lost 90,000 manufacturing jobs just in the month of September, and a total of over 600,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since last year.  Though worsened by the current economic crisis, manufacturing employment in the United States has been in a continual decline over the last decade - a total of 4 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1999.  These are some of the country’s best middle-class jobs, paying an average of $25,000 more per year than service sector jobs and often providing benefits such as health care and pensions.  They are also a lifeline for towns across the nation, particularly those hardest hit by foreclosures and unemployment.

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act would revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector by authorizing federal loan guarantees to provide a total of $50 billion in loans to manufacturers. These loans would help rebuild domestic manufacturing by financing the cost of retooling or expanding existing manufacturing facilities, or establishing new facilities, to domestically produce renewable energy and energy efficiency products and components.  Covered products would include, but would not be limited to, wind turbines and related components; solar energy products; fuel cells; advanced batteries and storage devices; biomass engines; geothermal equipment; ocean energy equipment; carbon capture and storage; and energy efficient appliances, products, parts, and components that are used to increase energy efficiency by at least 30 percent.

Loans could also be used to offset the cost of installing clean and energy efficient technologies in existing industrial facilities.  Performing these upgrades represents a long-term investment in improving cost-effectiveness of production and retaining existing jobs.  Covered technologies would include combined heat and power systems, natural gas pressure recovery, advanced cogeneration, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. Under the program, priority would be given to facilities located in regions with the highest unemployment rates.

Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing creates and retains permanent, good jobs on the factory floor.  In general, approximately 5 full-time component manufacturing jobs are created for every $1 million of investment in renewable energy systems.   Additionally, 3 to 4 building-material manufacturing jobs and 5 energy-efficient appliance manufacturing jobs are created for every $1 million invested in building energy efficiency. This means that a $50 billion investment in clean energy manufacturing would immediately create or retain 250,000 direct manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Over the long-term, retooled manufacturing facilities will have the capacity to scale up to meet increased demand for renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, generating further employment gains.

Investment in manufacturing is also strong engine for economic development because every dollar invested in manufacturing generates wider multiplier effects than those in other sectors through finance, transportation, supply chains, installers and other related businesses.   The Economic Policy Institute estimates that every direct manufacturing job supports 2.9 indirect jobs in other sectors. This translates to an additional 725,00 indirect jobs in supply chains, transportation, and services created by the manufacturing loan program. Manufacturing investment would also generate as much as $120 billion in revenue due to increased demand for products and services, and will stimulate further private investment in renewable energy and energy efficient systems.

Past experience offers evidence of the potential impacts of investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency products.

• In 2006, U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency industries generated 8.5 million new direct and indirect jobs, $971 billion in industry revenue, and $150 billion in increased federal, state, and local government tax revenues. These industries include wind, solar, bimass, hydrogen fuel cells, green building, and energy efficiency products.
• In 2004 there were 10,179 firms nationwide with the technological potential to produce photovoltaic energy components, employing 714,183 workers. In the same year, 90 firms in 25 states were active in manufacturing wind turbine components, and 16,163 firms nationwide had the technological potential to produce wind energy components. These firms employed a total of 1,025,327 workers.
• Demand for solar and wind power will continue to expand over the next twenty years, and between 70 and 80 percent of potential new jobs created will be in the manufacturing sector.
• And new jobs aren’t the only benefits — in 2006, the use of Energy Star appliances saved an estimated 170 billion kWh of electricity and $14 billion on energy bills.

Expanded use of technologies which improve industrial energy efficiency also offers untapped potential to create jobs and reduce electricity consumption.  In 2006, demand for energy efficient industrial and related machinery created an estimated 175,000 direct and indirect jobs, including manufacturing, installation, maintenance jobs and those in related services. This number is likely to double over the next twenty years.   A study commissioned by the Department of Energy estimates that implementation of technologies such as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or cogeneration could produce up to 100,000 megawatts of electricity, or a savings of up to 19% of U.S. electricity consumption. These technologies could also reduce industrial energy consumption by 1.4% by 2020.

By investing $50 billion in domestic manufacturing, the Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act will create a total 250,000 direct manufacturing jobs and 725,000 indirect jobs in other sectors. It would also generate $120 billion in additional industry revenues, providing further stimulus for local economies.

Model Programs and Ready-to-Go Projects

Between 1993 and 1997, DuPont’s chemical-processing Chamber Works facility in New Jersey implemented a number of new technologies, including more efficient light bulbs and lighting systems; improved steam systems; combined heat and power generation; more efficient HVAC systems; and variable-speed drives for motors and optimized motor size. As a result, energy use per pound of output fell by about one third, and annual energy bills fell by $17 million, even while production increased by 9 percent.

Sharp Electronics, the second largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar cells in the world, converted part of its Memphis plant to solar panel production in 2003, its first panel manufacturing facility outside of Japan. Each year the Memphis Sharp plant produces enough panels to create about 64 megawatts of potential power, enough to power 14,000 homes. Global sales of photovoltaic equipment are expected to near $20 billion in 2008, and are increasing 25 percent annually. Sharp employs about 190 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Growing consumer and commercial demand for photovoltaics makes the U.S. market worth targeting. Memphis’ central location along the Mississippi River, and links to other transportation routes, means that Sharp can easily serve both coasts.

A former Maytag factory in Newton, Iowa was recently purchased by TPI Composites, a wind turbine component part manufacturer.  The factory is being retooled to produce concrete towers to support wind turbines.  The company also built a new factory on the edge of town to produce blades for the turbines.  To retrain former Maytag workers, the local community college has added an industry-specific program that addresses the employer’s needs.  In total, TPI Composites plans to employ 500 local residents by 2010.

Community Fuels of Stockton, California hopes to double the capacity of their biofuels processing facility from 10 million gallons to 20 million gallons.  This would generate an additional $45 million in revenue, and provided needed stimulus for the local economy.  The plant currently employs 15 workers and pays $30.41 an hour, more than twice the local average manufacturing wage.  Community Fuels hires locally, and provides comprehensive training to all plant personnel.  With a loan of $3.5 million, they could complete construction and hire 20 more workers within a year.

The New York Industrial Retention Network received an initial grant of $400,000 from the City Council to help local manufacturers become more energy efficient.  With these funds, NYIRN made small grants to 21 companies. The average size grant was $21,000 and projects included simple installations of energy efficient lighting and replacement of old inefficient motors, as well as gap financing for one 20KW solar project and two 1 MW cogeneration projects. As a result, electricity consumption and costs were reduced by 10% to 15%. In the aggregate, we helped retain 1,380 jobs and more than 2.1 Mw of electrical demand were deferred from the grid.  With additional federal support, NYIRN hopes to expand this grant program to benefit other local manufacturers.

Increasing Energy Efficiency through Block Grants — $6 billion
The U.S. construction sector has been hurt badly by the foreclosure crisis and subsequent slump in the housing market.  Jobs in construction have declined - 35,000 construction jobs were lost just in the month of September, and a total of 464,000 construction jobs have been lost in the past year.   The building energy efficiency programs proposed here will create or retain good jobs in the construction sector.  Many of these jobs are union jobs paying decent wages and providing good benefits.  They are also linked to joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in the building trades, providing a non-college career pathway to the middle class for thousands of young people.  And these jobs can be created quickly - as soon as funding becomes available, workers will be ready to start performing retrofits and preparing homes for winter.

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act would create jobs in the construction sector by providing $6 billion to build upon the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program established by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act specifically encourages cities, municipalities, and states to implement public-private large-scale, multi-building retrofit projects for residential homes and businesses.  These projects may include establishment of financial incentives and cost-recovery mechanisms which will leverage further private investment.

It is estimated, in general, that every $1 million spent on energy efficiency retrofits generates about 10 person years of employment in direct installation of efficiency measures and another 3-4 person years in the production of relevant materials. In addition, every one direct construction job supports 1.9 indirect jobs in other sectors. This has the potential to create 60,000 direct jobs in construction and installation over the next year, and another 24,000 direct jobs in materials manufacturing, as well as an additional 183,600 indirect jobs in other sectors.

Block grant funds can also be used for small-scale renewable energy projects, including solar panel and small wind turbine installation.  While it is difficult to estimate the employment impacts of renewable energy projects potentially funded by High-Performance Building Block Grants because we can’t estimate exactly how many people will take advantage of the program, and what systems they will install, we can look to a number of examples to illustrate the possibilities. The Renewable Energy Policy Project estimates that solar projects create approximates 32 person-years of employment per megawatt (MW) of electricity, and that wind projects crate 4 person-years of employment per MW. And the American Solar Energy Society estimates that $3.2 billion was invested in renewable energy by federal, state, and local governments in 2006, creating 6,900 direct jobs and 8,970 indirect jobs.

Local initiatives already underway demonstrate the job creation capacity of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

• An evaluation of New York State’s Energy $mart program found that installed energy efficiency measures created or retained 4,700 jobs and saved customers $570 million on energy bills in 2007.
• A study by Center for Energy, Resources, and Economic Sustainability estimates that over 434,000 jobs were created in California between 2002 and 2007 as a result of improved household energy efficiency.
• California’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, a new renewable energy project, will invest $3.2 billion in state funds to generate 3,000 MW of electricity through small-scale solar projects. It is estimated that this will create more than 70,000 jobs, primarily in system installation.

Energy efficiency doesn’t just create jobs, it also generate savings on energy bills.  Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 40% of all US energy consumption. This translates to billions of dollars in energy bills for residential and commercial consumers.  The largest “end-uses” of primary energy in residential buildings in 2005 were space heating (32%), air conditioning or space cooling (13%), water heating (13%) and lighting (12%).   The largest “end-uses” of primary energy in commercial buildings in 2005 were lighting (27%), space heating (15%), space cooling (14%) and water heating (7%). These four end uses account for 63% of primary energy consumption. But with a relatively simple set of upgrades, home and building owners can achieve 15-35% energy savings.

This energy savings translates into a significant economic and environmental impact:

• The Consortium for Energy Efficiency estimates that in 2006, $2.6 billion was spent on state-level commercial and residential energy efficiency programs, including approximately $338 million for low-income programs. This led to a total savings of $35 billion in electricity and $212 million in natural gas, or the equivalent of removing 6.6 million passenger cars from the road for one year.
• An analysis of the full array of DOE EERE building energy efficiency programs, including WAP, the State Energy Program, Rebuild America, Energy Efficiency Information Outreach, and Building Codes Training and Assistance, finds that in 2005 an investment of $1.3 billion led to $491 million in total energy savings.
• In its annual evaluation of the New York Energy Smart program, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) reports that a state investment of $234 million saved 2 million tons of Carbon Dioxide per year, or the equivalent of removing 400,000 cars from New York roadways.

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act proposes providing $6 billion in grants for the pursuit of building energy efficiency programs.  This represents a smart investment, as industry estimates show that upgrades leading to between 20% and 30% improvements in energy efficiency pay for themselves in realized savings within 3 to 5 years. Residential and commercial property owners would benefit immediately - a $6 billion investment in energy efficiency upgrades could generate up to $2.3 billion in energy savings in the first year, and billions of dollars in savings over the life of the products.  Improved energy efficiency would also save approximately 43 million tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions, the equivalent of removing 8.6 million cars from the road for a year. This is a significant return on investment and represents improved environmental quality and money injected into local economies through spending in other areas.

In sum, by investing $6 billion in building energy efficiency, the Apollo Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act will create jobs, save money on energy bills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This investment will create 60,000 direct construction jobs and 24,000 direct jobs in materials manufacturing, as well as an additional 183,600 indirect jobs in other sectors. The installed energy efficiency upgrades will save Americans up to $2.3 billion on their energy bills in the first year, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 43 million tons.

Model Programs and Ready-to-Go Projects

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin Energy Efficiency (Me2) program has a goal of achieving 20% energy savings by allowing building owners and occupants to pay for the cost of improvements as a charge on their municipal services or utility bill, out of a portion of the immediate savings on their energy bill. If a participating building owner or occupant leaves the property before repayment is complete, the remaining obligation can go to the next owner or occupant, as he or she benefits from reduced energy costs.

Me2 is currently in the design phase, with a pilot program planned for 2009. Initially, Me2 will be linked to the existing statewide Focus on Energy program, which provides rebates, grants and incentives to residential and commercial utility customers for Energy Star certified energy efficiency improvements and on-site renewable energy generation. Me2 will depend on Focus on Energy certified auditors to perform initial inspections and make recommendations for improvements. Installation work will be performed only by Me2 certified contractors, who will be paid directly by Me2.  Initial capital will likely be raised through banks and Focus on Energy grants. Over time, the program will be self-sustaining, as funds are replenished from consumers’ utility bill payments.

An investment of $243 million in Me2 would create thousands of both entry level and highly skilled installation jobs.  Program designers are currently considering methods for ensuring that these are quality jobs that benefit local residents. To become an Me2 certified contractor, for example, criteria may be adopted that include hiring from local pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, paying decent wages, and being unionized or union-friendly.  A city ordinance may be adopted which allows Me2 payments to be added as a Municipal Services charge on the utility bill.  This ordinance may include language requiring that a certain percentage of workers on Me2 projects be hired locally.

The New York Green Jobs/Green Homes Program has been proposed by the Center for Working Families as a statewide program for energy efficiency.  The program aims to spend $2.4 billion to retrofit 1 million homes, creating 150,000 jobs over 5 years.  Efficiency upgrades will generate a 30% energy savings, reducing energy bills for the first million homes by a total of $1.1 million. Upgrades will include sealing the building envelope, improving heat/hot water systems, appliance replacement, lighting system replacements, solar thermal system installation, green roofing, and water consumption retrofits.  The cost for an average single-family home will be around $3,500 per unit, leading to an average annual savings of $750.  For a 15-unit building, retrofits may cost around $29,900 and save around $5,300 per year on energy bills.

Up-front costs for the program would come from a combination of federal WAP money, state weatherization programs, and other sources.  The state would develop a list of approved contractors to perform audits and install upgrades, with payment for services sent directly by the state.  As with the Me2 program, retrofits will be financed through ‘on-bill recovery,’ which uses part of the savings on individual energy bills to repay the cost of improvements.

The infrastructure to implement Green Jobs/Green Homes is already in place.  Program planning and coordination would take place through NYSERDA, with support from other state agencies.  Initially, retrofits could be completed by existing WAP contractors using a ‘Program Implementer’ model.  This model packages groups of projects together under certified master contractors, with opportunities for smaller companies and women or minority-owned businesses to participate as sub-contractors while they work towards certification.  To qualify for participation, subcontractors must make a commitment to hire locally and link with state-approved apprenticeship programs.

Support for Training through the Green Jobs Act ($250m)

The Green Jobs Act was passed as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to authorize $125 million per year in new workforce development funds to support research of the green labor force and provide grants to national and state training partnerships. These training programs will provide the skilled workforce needed to fill the demand generated by increased investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

The Green Jobs Act provides necessary support to identify needed skills, develop training programs and train workers for jobs in a range of industries, including energy efficient building, construction and retrofits, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles, biofuels, and manufacturing of sustainable products or use of sustainable processes and materials. Training grants specifically target workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy, individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, veterans, unemployed individuals, at-risk youth, and formerly incarcerated nonviolent offenders.  They also have a specific focus on developing “pathways out of poverty” and into economic self-sufficiency through work in the green economy.

Doubling support for the Green Jobs Act to $250 million per year represents smart workforce development that ensures a skilled and ready workforce to fill jobs created by expanding weatherization and green building efforts envisioned elsewhere in this green recovery package.   Green Jobs Act programs would train 70,000 workers in the first year, representing an investment in their skills for participating in rapidly changing and increasingly green economy.    This allocation would support on-the-ground apprenticeship and job training programs to meet growing demand for green construction professionals.  The Department of Labor has offered assurances that the current allocation could be moved out into the field within 3 months, ensuring that this could be an effective element in a stimulus package.

Model Programs and Ready-to-Go Projects

The Oakland Green Jobs Corps trains young adults with barriers to employment in skills that will lead to green-collar jobs in construction, solar installation, and energy efficiency retrofits.  The program includes job training, support, hands-on work experience, and offers a state-approved environmental engineering technician’s certificates. The Oakland Green Jobs Corps was developed and proposed by the Oakland Apollo Alliance, a local partnership of business, labor, community groups, and workforce development programs.  The group won support from the Oakland City Council, who allocated $250,000 in seed money to create the program. Funds were awarded to a partnership between Laney Community College, Cypress Mandela Training Center, and Growth Sector, a workforce intermediary.  The project will be overseen by the California Education Development Department, and is currently training the first class of 40 students.

The Los Angeles Green Careers Training Initiative was developed by The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance in conjunction with the city Green Retrofits program.  The Green Retrofits Program represents a commitment by the city to install energy efficiency upgrades in most city buildings, particularly those in low-income neighborhoods. The Green Careers Training Initiative (GCTI) seeks to create green career ladders in construction, the public sector, public and private power companies and emerging energy industries.  The GCTI will (1) connect low-income inner-city residents to union apprenticeship and community college training programs that prepare them for living wage jobs and (2) provide upgrade training to existing workers within those industries.  Elements of the program include high school career technical education, a pre-apprenticeship program, articulation with relevant community college programs, and career counseling and mentoring.  The program will begin with 60 training slots in 2008.

As a set of 127 legislative priorities, PlaNYC seeks to tackle the effects of climate change and improve New York’s urban environment, in order to support sustainable long-term growth and economic development.  The New York City Apollo Alliance and Urban Agenda have been active in efforts to grow green-collar jobs linked to PlaNYC’s initiatives.  Working in partnership with labor unions, environmentalists, businesses, educators, and community organizations, the New York Apollo Alliance has studied the workforce needs and opportunities of PlaNYC’s energy efficiency programs.  They have also hosted a series of Green Collar Jobs Roundtables, which have led to the formation of working groups tasked with charting a coordinated green workforce development roadmap.  Working groups will assess the current environment and identify green jobs training opportunities, develop strategies for linking target populations to training, coordinate with employers, establish labor standards to ensure job quality, and build partnerships to achieve the roadmap agenda.

Creating a Clean Energy Service Corps — $300 million

The Clean Energy Service Corps (CESC) would be a new national service program under the umbrella of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CESC would engage rural and urban young adults, students, and seniors, in a combined service, training, and job creation effort to build the green economy.  Corpsmembers will earn a stipend while improving energy efficiency through large-scale greening projects, including construction of, and improvements to, low-income housing, public buildings, neighborhood parks, and public lands. Priority will be given to programs that enroll Corpsmembers who are economically disadvantaged and that provide those Corpsmembers with job training linked careers in the green economy.  Older Americans and students will also engage in service as volunteers, sharing their skills and gaining experience while providing valuable service to their communities.

This is a time of crisis for young people in America - we are experiencing a dire lack of skills, education, and opportunity for our nation’s youth.  A 2004 study estimated that 3.8 million youth, ages 18 to 24 - roughly 15% of all young adults - were neither in work nor in school.   One in three youth who start high school will not graduate four years later. More than half of youth of color in low-income communities will drop out.  Three fourths of state prison inmates are high school drop-outs, as is 59% of inmates in the federal system.   Teen employment is at its lowest level in 57 years. At any given time, about 50% of young black men ages 16 to 24 who are not enrolled in school are unemployed.  This is a critical moment for our nation’s seniors as well.  Millions of baby boomers will be retiring in the next ten years.  These older Americans are a tremendous force for volunteerism, and a great resource for building our clean energy economy.

AmeriCorps, the nation’s largest youth-focused national service program, counts over 21,000 full or part-time participants in 42 states, 44% of whom are people of color, nearly 60% of whom have no high school diploma, and 53% of whom come from families who earn less than $15,000 a year. Activities vary with local needs, from conservation work, such as building paths and clearing brush to prevent forest fires, to operating city recycling programs and weatherizing homes. Corps members receive a stipend and can work towards an educational award for further training or education at the end of their service.  Senior Corps, a program for Older Americans, counts 500,000 participants in its programs, whose offerings range from sporadic or short-term volunteering, to more sustained commitments and full or part-time stipended service.  Currently, there are around 30,000 stipended Senior Corps members, at an average cost of $5,000 per participant.

It is estimated that an initial $300 million investment in the Clean Energy Service Corps will support the participation of 25,000 young adult Corpsmembers in its first year. An additional 200,000 seniors will mobilize as full- and part-time Corpsmembers and volunteers during the first year of the program.  Finally, over 600,000 students per year will engage in community-based service-learning and volunteer projects coordinated by the CEC.  Over subsequent years, thousands more Americans, young and old, will mobilize to serve their communities and gain experience in the clean energy economy.

Model Programs and Ready-to-Go Projects

The Clean Energy Service Corps would be built on models of existing AmeriCorps programs.  AmeriCorps is the largest and greenest national service system for young people, counting over 21,000 full or part-time participants in 42 states, 44% of whom are people of color, nearly 60% of whom have no high school diploma, and 53% of whom come from families who earn less than $15,000 a year. Activities vary with local needs, from conservation work, such as building paths and clearing brush to prevent forest fires, to operating city recycling programs and weatherizing homes.  Corps members receive a stipend and can work towards an educational award for further training or education at the end of their service.

Senior Corps, a program of the Corporation for National service, counts 500,000 participants in its programs, whose offerings range from sporadic or short-term volunteering, to more sustained commitments and full or part-time stipended service. Through the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI), which operates Senior Environmental Corps around the country in partnership with R.S.V.P. volunteer centers, older volunteers provide public education around energy conservation and efficiency, build green affordable housing and weatherize homes.   While there are over 10,000 EASI volunteers around the country, the potential to ramp up ways for retirees to mentor and share skills and expertise with younger generations is tremendous, particularly as the baby-boom generation enters retirement and seeks meaningful service opportunities.

1.  Clean Tech Manufacturing Incentives –  $50 billion in loans but not at full cost to the government.
The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act calls for federal loan guarantees to create a $50 billion loan program for manufacturing plants in order to help them retool or retrain workers to produce clean energy and energy efficiency components or end products. This would create 250,000 direct manufacturing jobs in the U.S., and support an additional 725,000 indirect jobs. With an economic multiplier of 2.43 for investment in manufacturing, the loan program would generate as much as $120 billion in revenue due to increased demand for products and services.


2.  Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants — $6 billion for large scale public-private partnerships.
The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act builds upon the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program to provide for cities, municipalities and states to conduct energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Act specifically encourages these entities to implement public-private large-scale, multi-building retrofit projects for residential homes and businesses. These grants could generate up to $2.3 billion in energy savings each year.  They could also save approximately 43 million tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing 8.6 million cars from the road for a year. The Block Grant Programs also has the potential to create 60,000 jobs in construction and installation over the next year, 24,000 jobs in materials manufacturing, as well as an additional 183,600 indirect jobs in other sectors.

3.  Expanded Green Jobs Act — $250 million for green-collar job training.
The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act doubles the appropriation for the Green Jobs Act, authorized in the 2007 EISA, providing $250 million per year in job training and workforce investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy installations. This allocation would support on-the-ground apprenticeship and job training programs to meet growing demand for green construction professionals.  Green Jobs Act programs would train 70,000 workers, and invest in their skills for participating in rapidly changing and increasingly green economy.

4.  Clean Energy Service Corps — $300 million for service.
The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act provides an initial investment of $300 million to fund a Clean Energy Service Corps, located in the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The Clean Energy Service Corps will support the participation of 25,000 young adult Corpsmembers in its first year.  An additional 200,000 seniors will mobilize as full- and part-time corps members and volunteers during the first year of the program.  Finally, over 600,000 students will engage in community-based, service-learning, and volunteer projects coordinated by the CEC.

Estimated total one-year outcomes:
o    $56.55 billion in federal investments in energy efficiency and green-collar jobs.
o    $2.3 billion in residential and commercial energy savings.
o    $120 billion in industry revenue.
o    334,000 direct and 908,600 indirect jobs, including 60,000 construction jobs and 274,000 manufacturing jobs.
o    Training and paid volunteer service opportunities for 295,000 young adults and seniors.

These figures are based on a recovery package developed by Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office in consultation with the Apollo Alliance, along with Green For All, the Corps Network, and the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

For more information:
Elena Foshay
Apollo Alliance Research Associate
Phone: 415-371-1700 x212
Email: foshay@apolloalliance.org

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008 proposes four vital new investments to strengthen the capacity of American manufacturers to build the tools of the new clean energy economy, and provide nearly 1 million family-supporting jobs.

“There is no more crucial time to invest in our manufacturing sector and good-paying, middle-class jobs, than now,” said Stabenow.  “These critical investments will not only stimulate our economy, but put our nation on a path to energy independence.”

“The nation’s economic well-being is closely tied to its capacity to accelerate and scale up the clean energy, good jobs economy,” said Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance.  “We are thrilled that Senator Stabenow has introduced The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008, which we believe is the best blueprint for executing this new, clean energy economic development strategy.”

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008 is co-sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat of Ohio, and supported by Green For All, the Corps Network, the Center for American Progress, and other organizations. It calls for:

•    Establishing a $50 billion loan program to help manufacturing plants retool and retrain workers to produce clean energy and energy efficiency components and end products. This would create 250,000 direct manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and support an additional 725,000 indirect jobs. With an economic multiplier of 2.43 for investment in manufacturing, the loan program would generate as much as $120 billion in revenue due to increased demand for products and services.

•    Providing Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants for large-scale public-private partnerships. The $6 billion program provides for cities, municipalities, and states to conduct energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. These grants could generate up to $2.3 billion in energy savings each year. They could also save approximately 43 million tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing 8.6 million cars from the road for a year. The Block Grant Program also has the potential to create 60,000 jobs in construction and installation over the next year, 24,000 jobs in materials manufacturing, as well as an additional 183,600 indirect jobs in other sectors.

•    Providing an infusion of $250 million for the Green Jobs Act, a program authorized in the 2007 Energy bill for job training and workforce investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy occupations. This allocation is in addition to the $125 million annual appropriation authorized under the bill.  The funds would support on-the-ground apprenticeship and job training programs to meet growing demand for green construction professionals. Green Jobs Act programs would train 70,000 workers, and employ their skills in the rapidly changing and increasingly green economy.

•    Investing $300 million to finance a Clean Energy Service Corps, located in the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Clean Energy Service Corps will support the participation of 25,000 young adult corps members in its first year. An additional 200,000 seniors will mobilize as full- and part-time corps members and volunteers during the first year of the program. Finally, over 600,000 students will engage in community-based service learning, and volunteer projects coordinated by the CEC.

Enacting the Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008 will generate the following outcomes over one year:
o    $56.55 billion in federal investments in energy efficiency and green-collar jobs.
o    $2.3 billion in residential and commercial energy savings.
o    $120 billion in industry revenue.
o    334,000 direct and 908,600 indirect jobs, including 60,000 construction jobs and 274,000 manufacturing jobs.
o    Training and paid volunteer service opportunities for 295,000 young adults and seniors.

“We can revive our nation’s manufacturing base by investing in alternative energy,” said Senator Brown. “Investments in wind, solar, and renewable fuels will create new jobs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

The Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2008 is the third major clean energy economic investment proposal that the Apollo Alliance has endorsed since September to accelerate and scale up the clean energy economy and provide millions of good paying green-collar jobs.
In September, the Apollo Alliance introduced The New Apollo Program, a national investment strategy to propel the American clean energy economy and create and or retain 5 million jobs. On December 8, the Alliance introduced the Apollo Economic Recovery Act, a one-year $50 billion economic stimulus and recovery package.

The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America to expand opportunities for American businesses and workers , reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and cut the carbon emissions that are destabilizing our climate.