Green Jobs Advocacy Day Hits The Capitol
Today is Green Jobs Advocacy Day, a day in which thousands of advocates from around the country are gathering on Capitol Hill to lobby for good-paying green jobs.
According to a report released yesterday by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash), “Requiring that green-sector companies receiving economic development subsidies provide wages and benefits high enough to allow workers to achieve self-sufficiency standards will help realize the promise of the clean-energy revolution.”
The newly released Global Insight study stated that 10 percent of job growth in the U.S. is likely to be green by 2038, making it the fastest growing sector in the country. The report also stated that its results suggest “that wind and solar manufacturing workers earn more than the typical employee at a Wal-Mart store, but it would be a stretch to say that all of them have good jobs.”
Attendees to Green Jobs Advocacy Day are hoping to establish fair wages and other benefits for new, green jobs. - Greensage.com
The day is also part of the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference in Washington, D.C., an event running through Friday of this week gathering over 2,000 labor, environmental and business leaders who are pursuing innovative environmental investments, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and green technologies.
The 2009 Conference will “be the leading forum in 2009 for shaping the national debate about investment in clean energy and green technologies, and for sharing ideas and strategies for a refashioned, green economy.”
Newly appointed U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will also address the conference on Friday evening.
Green Jobs Moving Forward
On the heels of this conference and the release of the Global Insight report, the Wal-Mart Foundation announced yesterday that it will award $5.7 million in grants to the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Veterans Green Jobs to support the creation of green jobs in the U.S.
“We understand how important building a green workforce is to the future of America, and the Wal-Mart Foundation is committed to helping create job growth that also sustains our environment,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “Realizing that one of the greatest barriers to creating green jobs is the lack of a trained workforce, the Wal-Mart Foundation’s grants will help break through this barrier and enable more American workers to be trained and ready to contribute in this growing sector.”
Manny Diaz, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and mayor of Miami, praised the grant, saying “Given that 85 percent of all green jobs are expected to be located in cities and their metro areas in the coming years, this grant could not come at a better time.”
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Green Jobs Advocacy Day Hits The Capitol - Earth911.com | www.homefloorplans.ca
posted on February 4th, 2009 at 2:49 am
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Bill Rabenaldt
posted on February 4th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
The natural beauty of our hillsides, ocean bluffs and waterways are too precious not to protect and preserve. A new technique has been developed that will actually “nail” soil to prevent landslides and stabilizes any terrain for new development and it maintains the character of the area.
Having spent the past 10 years of my life as a member of the Pismo Beach City Council in California, I have come away with an extreme amount of knowledge of the government process, made many great life long friends along the way and this unique opportunity has made me acutely aware of the challenges facing our coastal communities and counties in California.
As elected officials, we tend to gravitate towards issues of importance that have grabbed our attention. It was sewer, bluff erosion and the long-term availability of water that rang my bell. In fact, that bell is still vibrating.
While researching firms dealing with these specific issues, I came across Landslide Solutions (www.landslidesolutions.com) out of the Sacramento area. They really have the bluff erosion and land stabilization issues “nailed”. I wanted to introduce you to them.
Recently, they kept Pebble Beach Drive from collapse, taking all of the embedded utilities and force mains with it. What was the biggest bang was for the buck? It was half the cost of traditional methods. This intrigued me until I also found out that they did it by driving 8 foot “nails” into the embankment as part of the process. I also found out they work on watershed issues, landslides (prevention/emergency) and the stabilization of banks and levees.
They have received California Costal Commission approval and are listed as an authorized GSA (General Services Administration) contractor for the Federal Government. With partners in Canada and New Zealand, the company is fast becoming recognized around the world.
I bring this to your attention because you are the movers in your industry that are able to introduce new technology and decrease the construction costs for both the private and public sectors whether that be in areas of conservation or the sake of. It all matters!
Respectfully,
Bill Rabenaldt
791 Price Street #187
Pismo Beach CA 93449
805.904.7062
pismobill@charter.net