Green Jobs Future Here Now

Posted on November 20, 2011 by quest

The green jobs of the future are actually already here. Jobs for the Future a national organization that identifies, develops, and promotes new education and workforce strategies and the National Wildlife Foundation are introducing NASA‘s cutting-edge contributions in climate change science to community college green sector curricula as part of a new project launched this month called Building a Diverse, Green Workforce. The project builds on The Greenforce Initiative, a partnership between JFF and NWF to improve green career pathways for underrepresented students and connect campus sustainability to hands-on training opportunities. The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is also a partner in the new project. Edgecombe Community College in North Carolina, Wayne County Community College in Detroit, and Wilbur Wright Community College in Chicago are all piloting the new curriculum in at least nine courses, engaging up to 180 students over two years.

IRobot

In science fiction technology is suspect. Take for example the movies Terminator and iRobot where the machine are out to takeover humans. But then comes Disney’s hardest working droid in show business, Wall – E; and Optimus Prime from Transformers who were meant to save civilization. So I guess it depends how we use it. According to Maria Flynn, vice president at JFF, “Despite the slow growth economy, employment opportunities continue to increase in many clean economy sectors and sustainability skills are becoming more important for economic competitiveness. Through this project, we will strengthen the skill sets that adults attain in their green career training programs while also supporting the development of workers who are knowledgeable about and prepared for well-paying STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.”

“Climate change, and the challenges it brings, will touch every corner of the American economy, and we must address it in kind at the career training level,” said Kevin Coyle, vice president of Education Programs, National Wildlife Federation. “We are excited to help that process along by adapting our teaching tools using more technically advanced NASA learning opportunities and resources more appropriate for community college faculty and students.” To promote greater access and success for students at different skill levels, Building a Diverse, Green Workforce focuses on credit coursework that leads to green job-related certificates and degrees; workforce training programs endorsed by green sector employers; and basic skills programs for students not yet ready for college credit-level work. The curriculum will be adapted from the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA Climate Change Connections, which incorporates NASA mission satellite data with ground-based observations for use with high school students and teachers. This national project was made possible in part by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

Arctic Melt Unnerves the Experts

California’s Ninety Nine Percent Buying Solar Energy

Environmentalist Wins Hispanic Leadership Award

Posted on November 19, 2011 by quest

“I am honored to have been selected as the MillerCoors 2011 Lider of the Year and grateful for the opportunity to continue helping my community,” said Andrea Delgado. “I want to thank everyone who voted for me. Your support inspires me to continue doing everything I can to address the issues that affect our community.”The MillerCoors Lider of the year is chosen by public vote on www.MillerCoorsLideres.com. Andrea won 42 percent of the 25,464 votes cast. She was among twelve outstanding Latino leaders nominated by MillerCoors for their leadership and contributions to their communities. Andrea will receive a $25,000 grant for LCLAA to implement a Latino leadership project with MillerCoors.

“Andrea’s dedication to the Hispanic community and the environment serves as an example and an inspiration to all of us,” said Jose Ruano, multicultural relations manager for MillerCoors. “The competition among this year’s 12 Lideres was tough, as each is an incredible example of Latino leadership. We are proud to highlight the achievements of Latino leaders, like Andrea, so they may continue to be role models for future generations.”Through her work with LCLAA, a national non-profit organization representing the interests of approximately 2 million Latino workers and their families, Andrea helps raise awareness about workers’ rights and environmental problems that impact Latinos in their workplaces and their communities. Through her work with the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change (NLCC), Andrea engages and educates minorities and elected officials about climate change and the importance of environmental protection to safeguard public health and create quality jobs.

“To know Andrea is to understand how passionate she is about addressing the issues that affect the Latino community, especially those related to achieving justice and dignity in the workplace and protecting the environment. Andrea is an example that Latino youth hold a lot of promise for our workplaces, communities and the nation as a whole. We are fortunate to have her as part of our team,” said Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director, LCLAA. Since 2006, the MillerCoors Lideres program has raised awareness and highlighted the achievements of national and local leaders within the Hispanic community through an online public voting competition and a national advertising campaign.

Los Angeles The New Mecca For Electric Vehicles

San Francisco Auto Show

A Solar House Divided

Posted on November 18, 2011 by quest

What would Abraham Lincoln think about the internal divide within the US solar industry and its reaction into claims that China is using unfair trade practices to dump solar panels in the US market? A few days go the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) representing dozens of U.S. solar companies and thousands of American jobs, have joined to urge policymakers to help find a resolution to SolarWorld’s harmful trade petition. The Coalition now represents 52 American solar companies from across the United States and throughout the solar value chain or nearly 10% of the U.S. solar industry workforce.”Every day, new American solar companies are stepping forward to oppose SolarWorld’s bid to block competition in the U.S. solar industry,” said Alan Epstein, President and COO of KDC Solar LLC, a new CASE member based in New Jersey. “Competition is good for the U.S. solar industry, good for solar jobs, and most importantly, good for creating and preserving long-term jobs for our electric customers and therefore the economy. The solar industry must remain united in its mission to make solar energy affordable for everyone.”

The Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy actions comes on the heals of the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s decision to initiate an intensive, year-long investigation into Chinese solar export practices. “The anti-competitive tactics of Chinese exporters have threatened to wipe out U.S. producers and jobs said,” Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld and a leader for the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) Brinser said. “Domestic producers look forward to returning to steady increases in efficiency and sustainable decreases in pricing that directly result from legal international competition – and to advances in America’s renewable-energy future.” CASE members represent a large cross section of the U.S. solar industry, both large and small companies, including silicon and module manufacturers, project developers, financial and real estate services and installers.

“We’ve hired 400 employees this year, including electricians, roofers, salespeople, call center professionals – affordable solar energy in the United States is the catalyst for this new economic opportunity and these jobs,” said Ken Button, co-founder and president, Verengo Solar Plus. “If SolarWorld is successful with its petition, it would hurt the broader U.S. solar industry. Are SolarWorld’s jobs more important than ours?” In a recent solar industry report, Jefferies analyst Jesse Pichel explained why SolarWorld’s anti-trade petition could hurt broader U.S. solar industry growth: “The U.S. solar industry, already suffering from a lack of financing, will experience higher panel prices and lower demand if countervailing duties are imposed as early 2012. SolarWorld may see backlash as U.S. developers and installers are hurt by this scorched Earth approach.”SolarWorld‘s trade action has been largely unpopular in the U.S. solar industry, given its potential to hurt thousands of jobs throughout the solar value chain.

Hydropower and Fish Friendly

New Solar Solutions Could Put Angelenos To Work

Posted on November 16, 2011 by quest

While Los Angeles is fast becoming a major player in the electric vehicle industry, a new jointly authored report by UCLA and USC research teams finds that Los Angeles is lagging behind on solar energy installation despite a significant trained workforce ready to perform clean-energy solar jobs. Further, the study finds that the areas in Los Angeles with the greatest potential for rooftop solar power – and thus the greatest capacity to support solar-related jobs – include many areas suffering from high unemployment and economic need.

The report urges officials to adopt a rooftop solar energy program known as a solar FiT (or feed-in tariff) that enables business owners and residents to install solar panels on their rooftops and sell surplus energy to the local utility. Such a program has been endorsed by a coalition of environmental groups, labor leaders, business organizations and other stakeholders. Thus far city leaders have failed to enact policies that would take advantage of this resource and put city residents to work.“Unless civic leaders ramp up efforts to expand solar programs, the city and region face the prospect of being left behind,” states the report, Empowering LA’s Solar Workforce: New Policies that Deliver Investments and Jobs.LABC_Solar_Workforce_Study_2011 “This report is, above all, a wake-up call to policymakers to make certain they are utilizing an important workforce segment – and creating policies that will put qualified people to work.”

While California has set a goal of generating 33 percent of its energy from renewable energy by 2020, the study reveals that the LA region lacks sound policies to meet these goals and employ ready green-economy workers. In fact, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has one of the weakest solar track records among major California utilities, generating less than one sixth as much solar power per customer as the state leader, Southern California Edison.The report, presented by the LABC Institute, will be formally released at the LA Business Council’s “Building LA’s Workforce” Summit at UCLA today, Nov. 16. It will be discussed at the event by a panel that includes three leading mayoral candidates– City Council President Eric Garcetti, Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Charging Up EV’s In Southern California

California’s Ninety Nine Percent Buying Solar Energy

Posted on November 15, 2011 by quest

PV Solar Report, an authority on California solar market data and SunRun, a leading home solar company, today announced that families in median income zip codes make up the majority of California’s home solar market. Two thirds of California home solar installations in 2009, 2010, and 2011 year-to-date have been in zip codes with median annual household incomes of less than $85,000 and not in the wealthiest areas of the state. In addition, the number of residential projects in lower income zip codes continues to increase as solar prices decrease. The top cities on the list are not California’s wealthiest and are home to more mainstream families. For example, Bakersfield and Fresno are among the state’s top five solar cities with annual household incomes averaging between $40,000 and $50,000. By comparison, Malibu, which was not even in the top 25, has a median annual household income of $160,000. The percent of total installations in California’s highest income zip codes is only 2-3 percent.

SunRun Director of Government Affairs Ethan Sprague said, “The data from PV solar report shows this model is working, and that it’s not just the wealthy driving and benefitting from solar adoption. We are working to educate consumers that solar is finally affordable.” “This is exactly the market transformation that the California Solar Initiative (CSI) was designed to achieve when it started in 2007. SunRun owns, insures and maintains solar panels and installs them on a homeowner’s roof. Families pay a low monthly rate for clean energy, fixing their energy costs for 20 years. The service makes solar accessible to more Californians because families who could not afford cash purchase can now go solar. One of every four SunRun customers reporting income makes less $50,000 per year.

“It’s exciting to analyze how the industry is growing right now, especially when trends indicate that solar is becoming more mainstream and not just reserved for the wealthiest individuals,” said Stephen Torres, founder and managing director of PV Solar Report. “Solar prices are coming down, it’s great for job growth from installing, financing, and servicing solar in local communities, and models like SunRun are helping drive growth because they eliminate large upfront investments.”

Solar Power Wars

Lakers Players Shoot For Green Solar Energy

Posted on November 14, 2011 by quest

The news that the NBA season is in peril isn’t good news. As just reported in the New York Times, “The union representing National Basketball Association players formally disbanded Monday and declared it would take its standoff with the league’s owners into federal court, a development that pushed the league as close as it has ever been to losing an entire season of play.”But recently Sungevity, a recognized national leader in solar innovation and customer satisfaction, announced the hiring of Lakers’ stars Metta World Peace and Devin Ebanks as part of the company’s “Rooftop Revolution” campaign – marking the first time out-of-work NBA stars are put their energy into the nation’s hot solar market and emerging green economy. In the land of abundant sunshine, the two Lakers drove Sungevity’s solar-powered, bio-diesel ice pop truck to Los Angeles hot spots and provided free, all-natural treats while promoting the ease and affordability of residential solar panel installation. “Without basketball or dancing on my schedule, I need a job!” joked Metta World Peace. “Sungevity is about positive, renewable energy, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than interacting with the fans and promoting the power of the sun to the city of Los Angeles.”

Ten years ago, there were just 500 home solar rooftops in California. Today, that number is over 60,000 and California is well on its way to reaching its goal of one million solar roofs by 2018. With the recent reintroduction of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Solar Incentive Rebate Program on September 1, homeowners can enjoy added savings on their solar units. The LADWP is awarding rebates until the $40 million budget earmarked for its fiscal year runs out.

“While we share Los Angeles’ hopes of seeing Metta and Devin back on the Staples Center court soon, we’re thrilled to have them on our team promoting solar energy as the key to minimizing utility costs and gaining energy independence,” said Danny Kennedy, Founder, Sungevity. “Between our fast, free iQuote process and the LADWP solar rebate program, there has never been a better time for Los Angeles residents to go solar.” Leveraging web-based solar analytics and satellite imagery, the company’s online iQuote process – combined with its Solar Lease program – provides homeowners with the easiest, most affordable solar energy solution. Sungevity is growing at a rapid pace, increasing its customer base by ten-fold and quadrupling employee headcount over the past year. The company currently provides solar services in five states including, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, and is the exclusive residential solar partner for Lowe’s, the world’s second-largest home improvement retailer.