February 3 through 6, 2009, people interested or involved in the “green industry” met in Washington, D.C., for the 3rd annual Good Jobs/Green Jobs Conference. Over 2,500 people attended from every field – members of the United Steel Workers Union, teachers and college professors, members of both federal and local governments, scientists, environmentalists, carpenters, builders, electricians, farmers, geeks, and more.
Just looking at the list of Conference sponsors is enlightening and very encouraging: the Blue Green Alliance, the Sierra Club, the United Steelworkers Union, the Communications Workers of America Union, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Service Employees International Union, and the Laborers’ International Union of North America. What an amazing collection of people and varied nterests!
My Take-Aways from the Conference:
There are big opportunities for all of us.
This is really a win/win – people work (and the economy improves) and we take better care of the environment (and the environment improves).
More education will be needed in the future. Some of it could be self-paced or even just done by reading up on the topics now.
Also, many opportunities for people right now, with little extra training – carpenters, electricians, plumbers for the weatherization, construction and de-construction, and installation of solar systems in both homes and buildings.
Several speakers talked about their “shovel-ready” projects. Sounds very promising!
Much was talked about:
* “Weatherization” of existing homes and buildings
* “De-construction” of homes and buildings that can’t be weatherized, with (of course) recycling of as many of the construction elements as possible.
* Great (and growing) need for installers (and maintainers) of solar, photovoltaic, wind, etc power elements. These need training.
* In-place facilities, maintenance, manufacturing, and engineering people who understand “sustainability”. More training needed.
* New “green” products many of which will be developed in the USA and at least some of which will hopefully be manufactured in the USA
* New technologies developing, to be invented, produced, marketed, and maintained.
Several universities were there with their “green MBA” programs rolling out. Many community colleges are looking to do the “green collar” training. Home energy audit training (”HEAT”) program for veterans is even under development. And there will be countless other energy training options
The “greening” of our economy seems like a variation on the impact of computers/IT and the Internet on our lives and processes. Starting small, with isolated pockets of expertise, but eventually permeating everything we do (finally).
Also looks like lots of opportunities, regardless of the color of the collar! Yea!
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