Hot Spots for Green Jobs in Solar, Biofuels & More

Amid all the hubbub over Van Jones’ resignation and Obama’s focus on other issues, talk of green collar jobs in America has slowed down somewhat – but that doesn’t mean that those jobs aren’t out there. The clean-tech sector remains a bright spot in a dull economy, and a report released by Clean Edge research on Thursday hints at where those jobs are.

From CNET:

Based on the number of job postings and placements, and public and private investment, the report found the solar industry to be the leading clean-tech sector, followed by biofuels and biomaterials, conservation and efficiency, smart grids, and wind power.

For those willing to move for a job, the report lists the 15 areas in the U.S. where people are likely to find the most clean-tech job activity, as well as a separate list for global clean-tech hotspots.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
2. Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County
3. New York-northern New Jersey-Long Island (N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa.)
4. Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton (Mass., N.H.)
5. Washington, D.C.-Baltimore (Md., Va., W.V.)

See the rest of the list – which includes Denver, Seattle, Houston and Detroit – over at CNET.

The report, “Clean Tech Job Trends 2009” (PDF) also includes tons of other info for clean-tech job hunters including schools that offer green career training, websites where you can find green job listings and a list of the best green-tech blogs, so it’s definitely worth a read.

Link [CNET]
Photo credit: Oregon DOT

Older Green Workers Worry as Young Trainee Ranks Grow

Right now, there’s a veritable army of green workers being trained across the country in fields ranging from conservation to clean energy. That’s great news to most people – except the older green workers who are afraid they’re going to be pushed out of their jobs by young trainees.

The Labor Department is paying to train people for green jobs, and younger workers tend to get more training money than adults. The fact that older workers have to update their knowledge to compete, paired with the lower cost of employing apprentices makes even this booming job market tough if you’ve got experience under your belt.

Youth Radio’s David Dominguez interviewed L.A. green workers, young and old.

This is ETI, the Electrical Training Institute of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Here, you find a mix of older union workers, called journeymen, and young apprentices, like 24-year-old Anthony Hernandez. Right now, Hernandez and his fellow trainees are learning how to install solar panels.

Anthony Hernandez: “We’ll be brought up as apprentices with the solar and the green movement so the journeymen will have to relearn everything. Hopefully it will be to our advantage and easier for us to install.”

Anthony used to be non-union electrical contractor, but decided to join the union for the safety training and benefits.

Frank DuMarcos: “I’m learning not to change the future, but to keep up with the new technology.”

That’s electrical journeyman Frank K. DuMarcos. He’s a 10-year union veteran. He admits that jobs often boil down to the brutal bottom line of a contractor’s budget. And that creates tension.

“Some contractors hire apprentices because apprentices are cheaper than a journeyman. Some apprentices only make $20. A journeyman makes over $37. I’ve been on jobs where they had two journeymen and they had 15 apprentices.”

But older workers needn’t worry too much, according to Jerome Ringo, President of the Appollo Alliance, which is devoted to creating green jobs around the country. He says that older workers will have an opportunity to retrain and that all workers, regardless of age and experience, will have a chance to benefit from investment in green jobs.

Listen to this Youth Radio story at the American Public Media Marketplace.

Link [American Public Media]
Photo credit: Flickr user greenforall.org

Sustainability Degrees Growing in Popularity

The world is about to welcome a whole new generation of sustainability experts, bigger than ever before – and it couldn’t have come at a better time. College students are flocking to sustainability programs in droves, graduating with the knowledge they need to help guide the world to a greener, more sustainable way of life.

From Earth 911:

With an emphasis on trans- and interdisciplinary research and teaching, schools such as Stony Brook, Colorado State University, the University of Washington, Arizona State University, the University of Pennsylvania and others are incorporating sustainability into subjects such as business, architecture, biological science, social science and more.

Some universities are even creating stand-alone schools related to sustainability. Additionally, According to the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) most recent count, 66 sustainability-oriented academic programs were created in 2008.

The academic knowledge base of sustainability will likely continue to be needed and expanded as more “green collar” jobs emerge.

With the noticeable increase in academic programs related to sustainability, universities increasingly appear up to the task of educating the next generation of leaders so that they might tackle the pertinent environmental, social and economic issues of our age.

We profiled some of the nation’s best undergraduate sustainability programs earlier this year in an article entitled ‘Becoming Tomorrow’s Green Leaders: Top Environmental Undergrad Programs’. Among the chosen colleges and universities are Middlebury College in Vermont, Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, Northland College in Wisconsin and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Want to learn more? The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has an exhaustive list of schools offering various kinds of environmental programs available on their website.

Link [Earth 911] + [AASHE]

Clean Energy Economy Poised for Explosive Growth

Green jobs are hot and getting hotter, according to a new study by Pew Charitable Trusts. Green collar workers currently constitute a tiny but fast-growing sector of the U.S. economy, and that growth is going to explode in the coming months.

From The New York Times:

The “clean-energy economy” grew 9.1 percent between 1998 and 2007 to 777,000 jobs. While that is just half a percent of all U.S. jobs, the clean-energy economy is poised to grow significantly with financial support from the public and private sectors, the Pew (pdf) concludes.

“The nation’s clean-energy economy is poised for explosive growth,” said Lori Grange, the Pew Center on the States’ interim deputy director. “The trends include surging venture capital investment … a critical growth rate in clean-energy generation, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly products.”

About 80 percent of venture capital investments in 2008 were in the clean energy and energy efficiency sector, broadly known as “cleantech.” And while cleantech slumped with overall venture capital in the first quarter of 2009, the sector outperformed telecommunications, media and other sectors, according to an analysis of Thompson Reuters data by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.

The Pew report cites Obama’s $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as the driving force behind the clean energy economy.

Oregon has the nation’s strongest clean energy economy on a per-capita basis, but California, the nation’s most populous state, had the most clean energy jobs last year with about 125,000.

The report’s lead researcher even says that the numbers are on the conservative side. Growth may be even bigger.

Clean energy jobs FTW!

Link [The New York Times]

Industry-Funded Report Inflates Cost of Obama Green Jobs Plan

Surprise, surprise: a new study sponsored by a group of energy-intensive industries claims that President Obama’s plan for a cap-and-trade system and to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would result in 1.9 million job losses and would cost the average American household $1,400 a year. If those figures sound off to you, you’re on to something.

Kevin Grandia of DeSmogBlog explains at The Huffington Post:

These industry estimates are wildly off the mark, of course.  The Environmental Protection Agency last week concluded that the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation being debated by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would cost the average household just $98 to $140 a year through 2050.

The Coalition for Affordable American Energy, which commissioned the study, was formed in June 2008 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors, and 73 other industry trade associations.

The group currently claims more than 180 associations as members, including dozens of local chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. and such noteworthy partners as the International Association of Ice Cream Vendors and the Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution.  (The group has no website of its own, all of its online communications are hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which calls itself a “key player” in CAAE.)

The Coalition for Affordable American Energy last made headlines when the group’s leaders met with former President Bush in August 2008 to lobby for increased domestic oil and gas drilling both offshore and in environmentally sensitive areas of Alaska. “I agree with them,” Bush said at the time.

Now, the Coalition is updating their report based on the Waxman-Markey bill, but that hasn’t stopped people (hellooo, Fox News) from taking the incorrect figures and running with them. The CAAE study has been widely published and cited since its release.

Naturally, conservatives and corporations were up in arms about these inflated figures, saying the cost was too high – but as The Hill pointed out, the economic consequences of a warming planet could be even greater. That’s one thing that so many on the right don’t seem to get: they’re not looking past here and now to consider what’s looming in the future.

Link [The Huffington Post]

Green Gigs Profiles Careers in Green

Ever wonder what an environmental scientist does? How about a health & safety officer? If you’re interested in jumping into a new, green career path but aren’t even sure what the various green job titles entail, Green Gigs has a new feature you’ll want to check out. “Profiles in Green Careers” interviews professionals who do the job every day to get the inside scoop on job duties, qualifications and what the day-to-day grind is like.

Here are a few examples of the interview questions, from Green Gigs’ Environmental Scientist profile:

Green Gigs: What are your job duties? What is your typical workday like?

Dave: Job duties at my level include managing field staff at various jobs, writing reports, managing financial aspects of various jobs and dealing with clients.

Green Gigs: Does your career lend itself to working from home, or is it mainly an office and/or field based career?

Dave: For entry level and junior staff, it is a field based career with limited office time. As you progress through the ranks, you will spend less time in the field. Although there are many aspects of the job that can be done from home, being in the office provides better access to the field staff, as well as the experience of coworkers.

Green Gigs: What advice would pass along to anyone looking to begin a career in environmental consulting?

Dave: Understand that you will need to “pay your dues” in the field. The first few years will be spent conducting field work. Field work is the foundation of everything else that we do.

Getting info like this from real eco-professionals is a great way to gauge whether a particular field is a match for you. Stop living a zombified existence at a job you hate – find your green dream job. Check out EarthFirst’s Green Jobs 101 and be sure to come back every Friday for our featured green job of the week.

Link [Green Gigs]
Photo credit: Canadian Water Network

Van Jones Explains Why He’s Going to Washington

He’s the perfect man for the job, so of course greenies across America are thrilled that Van Jones is joining President Obama’s administration to become a ‘green jobs adviser’. But, there are some who have questioned whether it’s really the best way to put Jones’ expertise to use, and wondered what he’s leaving behind as he heads to Washington. Jones sat down for interviews with E&E News and YES! Magazine to explain.

From Greenwire:

E&E: What will be your new role within CEQ, and why did you decide to join this administration?

Jones: The title is special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation. … As we begin to move toward a clean-energy economy, we have an opportunity to have equal opportunity from the very beginning, making sure all Americans can take part.

E&E: Will you also advocate the president’s agenda among the public?

Jones: That’s still in development. Part of my job description does have me available to advocate publicly, but I think we’re going to be focusing primarily internally for the near term.

E&E: Do you consider yourself Obama’s “green-jobs czar,” as some have dubbed you?

Jones: No, I’m the green-jobs handyman. I’m there to serve. I’m there to help as a leader in the field of green jobs, which is a new field. I’m happy to come and serve and be helpful, but there’s no such thing as a green-jobs “czar.”

Jones also answered some pressing questions from YES! Magazine, via GreenBiz.com:

Doug: What happens to Green for All while you’re in DC?

Van: That’s the best news of all, that we have an extraordinary leader in Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, who’s coming on board. Anybody in California knows that she is a truewunderkind. She has been a phenomenal leader of the progressive labor movement, she’s African-American, she’s young — in her early thirties. You just could not dream up a better person to come into Green for All at this time.

Doug: While you’re in DC, what can folks who have been following Green for All and working with you or on your initiatives, what can folks do to keep the movement going?

Van: Continue doing the things we have planned. We’re working to implement the green recovery in a just way. We need to get those recovery dollars out fast and fair. Anybody who’s interested can got to the website greenforall.org and you’ll see lots of opportunities to get involved and also lots of information about how to get those recovery dollars working in your own community. And that’s going to be an important part of what Green for All does going forward. To tell you the truth, I think in that start-up phase the early phase, visioning and initiating, I think I did an extraordinary job. We are in a different world, and Green for All needs a different leader. And it has that leader in Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.

Jones is passionate about what he does – that’s what makes him such a great pick. So, of course he’s going to make sure that things are taken care of before he leaves Green for All to help Obama tackle the green jobs angle of economic recovery in Washington. I think we’ll see a lot of amazing things come out of this partnership, and Green for All will continue the fantastic work they’ve been doing for so many years now.

Link [Greenwire] + [GreenBiz.com] via [The Huffington Post]

Great Green Job of the Week: Conservation Crew Leader, Southwest Conservation Corps

Southwest Conservation Corps
2008 Job Announcement

Position Title: Conservation Crew Leader
Position Type: Field-based, seasonal, full-time, exempt
Location: Based out of Tucson, AZ, Alamosa, CO, and Durango CO; works throughout the Southwest including Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Salary: $460 – $520 weekly stipend (depending on experience), includes weekly $25 mandatory meal deduction
Start date: Start dates range from April – August depending on location and program. Program length ranges from 6-25 weeks.
Benefits: Food provided while in the field, uniform, paid training, pro-deal purchase
Deadline: Open until filled
Reports to: Program Director

Overview:
Southwest Conservation Corps’ Crew Leaders perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. The position is also multi-faceted and demanding, but with opportunity for enormous rewards. Successful candidates will demonstrate high standards, compassion, excellent judgment, and the desire to devote themselves (at least seasonally!) to youth and the environment. The Crew Leader position requires both supervisory and technical aptitude, and a high level of comfort in the outdoors.

Southwest Conservation Corps:
The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a local, non-profit, Americorps-affiliated organization with offices in Tucson, Arizona, Durango, Colorado, and Alamosa, Colorado. SCC hires young adults, ages 16-25, to complete conservation work projects on public lands through the southwest. SCC has a strong environmental education component, and life skills are learned via formal lessons, on-the-job training, and the process of communal living.

The majority of SCC’s programs are residential programs, with crews camping in either front or backcountry settings for 11 day periods. SCC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southwest, including at-risk youth, college graduates, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.

Crew Leader Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage, supervise, and participate in day-to-day details of crew life in camp and at work.
• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
• Train and motivate a crew of eight young adults to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands. Coordinate logistics with project sponsors, Program Coordinator, Program Director and co-leader.
• Implement Environmental and Life Skills Curriculum via formal and informal lessons.
• Complete professional documentation of time sheets, daily and weekly report, Corpsmember and peer evaluations, incident reports, etc. Manage petty cash, gas cards and food budget.
• Transport crew safely in SCC’s 15-passenger vans or Suburbans.
• Promote individual Corpsmember development and a healthy community.

Qualifications:

• Leadership experience, preferably with diverse young adults, required.
• Previous Conservation or Youth Corps experience preferred.
• Familiarity with basic conservation skills including tool maintenance. Professional conservation, construction or landscaping experience preferred, but not required. SCC will trail exceptional applicants.
• Experience teaching outdoor and/or environmental education curriculum preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Physically fit and able to work long days in adverse conditions.
• Good driving record (insurable) and current driver’s license.
• High School diploma or GED required. Relevant Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Current Wilderness First Aid or higher and CPR certification.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference.

Essential Functions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit and talk or listen. The employee is required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus. The employee is frequently required to drive an SCC vehicle, and must be able to speak, understand, read and write English. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To Apply:
Complete the Crew Leader Application, available at www.sccorps.org , and submit with your resume and contact information with three professional references to the location you are interested in:

Four Corners-Durango, CO
Kevin Heiner-Program Director
(970) 403-0145
kevin@sccorps.org
701 Camino del Rio, Suite 101
Durango, CO 81301

Los Valles-Alamosa, CO
Heather Mc Slarrow-Program Director
(719) 539-2438
heather@sccorps.org
PO Box 583
Alamosa, CO 81101

Sonoran Desert-Tuscon, AZ
Josh Burt-Program Director
(520) 884-5550 ext. 4
josh@sccorps.org
1376 W. St. Marys Rd.
Tuscon, AZ 85745

Link [Treehugger Jobs] + [Southwest Conservation Corps]

Beware: Scammers are Preying on Green Job Seekers

“Green jobs” has become quite a buzz phrase lately, with millions of people who have either already lost their jobs or are nervous about their futures trying to learn more about the opportunities that are available. Unfortunately, scammers are all too eager to make a buck off the trend. Research shows that internet green job scams are growing, both to take financial advantage of green job seekers and to gather information that could be useful for identity theft or spam mailings.

So, where to turn when it’s so tough to tell the difference between the real deal and a scam? The Live Green, Live Smart Institute has launched list of the best green job sites. They vetted over 123 sites and were surprised by what they found.

From the Live Green, Live Smart press release:

Several sites asked individuals to pre-register before granting them access to hundreds or thousands of green jobs. In the process they were asked to fill out resumes that asked for information ranging from a drivers license number to a social security number, date and place of birth and other very private information. In the wrong hands this is information that could be easily used to create a new identity. Two of the sites were gone when the researcher checked a second time, a common technique among scam artists, gather information and move on.

In other cases the sites offered jobs that either did not exist or had been filled and were never removed from the posting boards. According to Peter Lytle, Executive Director and founder of the Institute: “We posted our own resumes on various sites and with various companies only to find out that the posted positions either never existed or had been filled months ago, most of the time we received no response and often we ended up getting put on a spam or pornographic e-mail list.” ” We found a large number of jobs that said they were green, but in reality were jobs that were not in the green and environmental sectors. Examples would be a Life Insurance sales position listed as Director of Environmental and Risk Sales Products; it was really only selling life insurance to your relatives.”

Don’t fall prey to scammers – get a full list of trustworthy green job sites at the Live Green, Live Smart website.

Check out EarthFirst’s Green Jobs 101: How to Snag Eco-Employment for more info about determining which job is right for you, training and applying.

Link [PRWeb] + [LiveGreenLiveSmart]

Will Green Jobs Become the New Greenwash?

Green jobs are coming, and they’re going to be a big part of rebounding from the global economic downturn – but without a clear definition of what a green job is, will companies use the term to intentionally or even unintentionally mislead people? Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com and author of Strategies for the Green Economy warns that the fervor over green jobs could lead to misuse of the term, and eventually engender cynicism about all things ‘green’.

Makower explains that, since the term ‘green jobs’ has been thrown around so much lately, people are putting all of their hopes on the idea that millions of green jobs are definitely imminent and will save the economy.  In the coming months, we’ll hear many green jobs claims by companies, industries, states, politicians and others interested in showcasing the job-creation potential of the green economy.  But without a real definition of what makes a job ‘green’, the term could be easily misused.

From Joel Makower:

The squishiness of green job definitions is troubling, reminiscent of so many other poorly defined aspects of the green vocabulary — words and terms like “natural,” “nontoxic,” and “environmentally friendly” — whose use and misuse in the marketplace ultimately led to public skepticism over all green product claims. The use of these words — none of which has a legal definition — is discouraged by green marketing specialists, and by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in its Green Marketing Guidelines.

Will the broad, unsubstantiated phrase “green jobs” similarly be problematic? Will it lead to a public backlash as people come to assume that green jobs are just another meaningless marketing claim bandied about by corporations and politicians seeking to green up their images? Will green jobs be seen as greenwash?

Makower points out that existing definitions offered by economic forecasting firms and the United Nations Environment Programme are too narrow or too broad, either preventing some authentically green jobs from being categorized as such or including jobs that technically shouldn’t fit.

While it’s important to make sure that the term isn’t used incorrectly or to mislead people about the true nature of a company’s actions and intentions, I don’t know that we should dally too much over terminology, at least not right now. We need to act quickly to create as many green jobs as possible – and while that concept may be a bit muddy right now – it seems that the vast majority of green job opportunities out there are the real thing.

Link [Joel Makower]
Photo credit: Green for All

College Students Flood Green Jobs Training

College students all over America are betting on the idea that the green job market holds promise even in this bleak economy, gravitating to green jobs training programs. They’re learning about alternative fuels, renewable energy and how to green their current field of work in the hopes of snagging one of the millions of green jobs that experts have predicted will become available over the next few years.

From ABC News:

Earlier this week in California, a “Dream Green Job” fair attracted hundreds of San Francisco Bay Area job-seekers to an event at the Commonwealth Club.

“I’m looking for something that really aligns with who I am and what I want to be doing in the world,” said Jessica Zdeb, who’s searching for a green job.

In addition to representatives from job networking Web sites and green industries like solar power, there were colleges and universities spreading the word about their course offerings, training and degree programs promising to prepare adult students for a greener future.

“I’m pretty excited about prospects here,” said Struan Vaz. “I want to understand what’s out there, what are people doing? What are the movers and shakers talking about? With that you can make a good decision.”

The news isn’t all rosy – GreenJobs.com CEO Peter Beadle says green job listings on his popular site have declined over the last few months even as applicant numbers have soared. Beadle believes the government has to tackle the credit crisis before green jobs can really take off. Still, green jobs aren’t out of reach.

“It’s not an economy where you can be a passive jobseeker,” said Caroline McCelland of Green Career Central. “You must be innovative; you must be willing and ready to do the work of doing the research and getting involved and getting engaged.”

And career counselors in the green arena say it’s important to focus and spend time educating yourself about the big world of renewable and sustainable energy.

“Whether it’s solar or wind or hydro, recognize that they are different,” Beadle says. “You have to become an expert in one of them.”

The key here is definitely being proactive. Don’t wait for a green job to fall into your lap – go out and fight for it. Check out our guide, ‘Green Jobs 101: How to Snag Eco-Employment’ for tips and information about finding the green job of your dreams.

Link [ABC News]
Photo credit: Green Jobs Now

Green Jobs 101: How to Snag Eco-Employment

Looking for a green collar job? You’re far from alone. Even with the tanking economy, lots of people are putting their hopes into the prediction that millions of green jobs are coming our way in the next few years – especially since many believe that green jobs and economic recovery will go hand-in-hand. Here’s EarthFirst’s guide to green jobs, helping you learn more about what’s out there, how to get training and where to apply.

What exactly is a green collar job?

A ‘green collar job’ is generally defined as a job that pays a livable wage, provides opportunities for advancement along a career track of increasing skills and wages and helps the planet, whether by cleaning up the environment, providing renewable energy, advancing eco-friendly technology or some other tangible improvement.

Green collar jobs range from what we know as ‘blue collar’ to ‘white collar’, with most of them falling squarely in the middle. They tend to require more than just high school education, but not necessarily 4-year college degrees. With adequate training, even low-skilled and low-income workers can get a job in a green industry.

Green collar jobs also tend to be local jobs. Check this out, from Green for All:

Much of the work we have to do to green our economy involves transforming the places that we live and work and the way we get around. These jobs are difficult or impossible to offshore. For instance, you can’t pick up a house, send it to China to have solar panels installed, and have it shipped back. In addition, one of the major sources of manufacturing jobs — a sector that has been extensively off-shored — are components parts for wind towers and turbines. Because of their size and related high transportation costs, they are most cost-effectively produced as near as possible to wind-farm sites. Cities and communities should begin thinking now about ways their green strategies can also create local jobs.

What are the hot industries with lots of jobs available, and what does the future look like for green jobs in general?

The hottest sectors for green jobs are solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, biofuels, and fuel cells (in terms of revenue growth). Hot job areas include electricians, mechanical engineers, welders, metal workers, construction managers, accountants, analysts, environmental scientists, and chemists.  The vast majority of jobs created by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are in the same types of roles seen in other industries.

In other words, you won’t necessarily even have to change fields to get a green job. Green companies will be seeking factory workers, IT professionals, marketing professionals, administrative assistants and other employees. Nearly any job can be green.

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) forecasts the creation of 37 million jobs from renewable energy and energy efficiency in the U.S. by the year 2030. Of course, ASES warns that this scenario will only be possible with strong government support – but we’re counting on President Obama to live up to his promises to put the creation of green jobs at the forefront of his priorities.

So far, California and Colorado stand out in terms of availability of green jobs and growth potential. California is becoming a “cleantech epicenter”, with employment in the sector spiking 10 percent between 2005 and 2007. More than $3 billion in venture money was invested in California cleantech companies in 2008, representing over 57 percent of all U.S. investments in the sector. California has also produced the highest number of patents (607) in the solar, wind and battery industries. Colorado, on the other hand, is a hotbed of renewable energy opportunities with about 6% of the U.S. wind market, nearly six percent of the photovoltaics market, and about 5% of the biofuels market.

The green jobs field is still very much in flux, according to GreenBiz.com. After years of promise led to a crash in expectations in late 2008 as the global economy faltered, many were unsure of how things will shape up in 2009 – and though it’s still unclear exactly when and where the green job boom will take place, there is definitely promise. All signs point to the Obama administration jump-starting America’s clean tech sector. Employers will have to catch up to the 21st century, though, and stop requiring applicants in brand-new fields to have years of experience. Training programs will be necessary to prepare workers for these new roles.

Where can I learn more about green jobs training?

If you’re out for a green job, prepare to be competitive. While not all green jobs require special training, many do – especially the cleantech and renewable energy industries. Here’s a list of green job training programs for various fields.

Green Corps 2009-2010 Field School for Environmental Organizing – In Green Corps’ year-long paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — global warming, deforestation, water pollution and many others — with groups such as Sierra Club and Greenpeace. And, when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups.

Green for All Academy – The Green for All Academy trains leaders and gives them the tools they need to communicate the promise of the green economy and to engage disadvantaged communities in support of green jobs and climate protection strategies. Academy participants are on-the-ground leaders in the movement to create an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. After receiving their initial training, participants work with Green For All to advance policy, communication, and organizing goals over a one-year fellowship period.

Sustainable South Bronx – The Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) program is one of the nation’s first and most successful green-collar job training & placement systems. Students graduate with several certifications, job readiness preparation, and a powerful environmental justice perspective on all of the important work they are qualified to do. Nearly all of the students were on some form of public assistance, and about half have prison records. This 14-16-week program is free to qualified applicants. SSBx also has a 10 to 13 week pilot job training program in basic building construction, energy retrofits, and home energy audits.

Oakland Green Jobs Corps – Providing “green pathways out of poverty,” the Oakland Green Job Corps will serve young adults who face barriers to employment – poverty, lack of work experience, limited education, cultural and language barriers, or history with the criminal justice system. The teachers at Cypress Mandela provide wraparound services and work with the students to help them achieve basic literacy and math skills, pass their GED, learn personal finance, get their drivers license or clear their driving record, and pass their weekly drug tests.

Solar Energy International - Solar Energy International (SEI) is a USA non-profit organization whose mission is to help others use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through education. SEI teaches individuals from all walks of life how to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and how to design and build efficient, sustainable homes. SEI offers trainings online and in 22 locations around the world.

Solar Living Institute – Established in 1998 as a spin-off from Real Goods Trading Company, the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization whose mission is to promote sustainable living through inspirational environmental education. The Institute provides practical, education by example and hands-on workshops on renewable energy, green building, sustainable living, permaculture, organic gardening and alternative, environmental, construction methods.

DC GreenWorks – DC Greenworks is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) social enterprise that serves the Washington, D.C. community by providing training, tools, and technologies that utilize, advance, and protect the environment. DC Greenworks sees a vital connection between ecology and economy, between employment potential and environmental sustainability. We actively seek to discover, promote, and deliver cutting-edge solutions that are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and socially beneficial.

There are lots more green job training programs available locally. To find one near you, contact your local chamber of commerce.

How do I prepare?

Before you start applying for green jobs, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting hired. First and foremost, go green in your own life in any ways that you can. Read green blogs, join local green groups, communicate with other greenies online – make contacts and build your knowledge about the green movement in general. If you’re unsure of what kind of green job is right for you, this can be a great way to learn which topics pique your interest.

Consider your strengths and think about how skills you’ve acquired in previous jobs can help you perform a new green job. Put these on your resume – and speaking of resumes, beef it up with green volunteering. It’ll show that your heart’s in the right place, which can help you stand out in a crowd of applicants.

Where should I apply?

Here are a few of the top green job boards. Check them regularly – instructions for applying to each job are typically included in the listing.

Green Jobs
Treehugger Job Board
Green Dream Jobs
Green Jobs Network
Green Careers by MonsterTRAK
Green Gigs
GreenBiz.com Career Center

Of course, if you’re the entrepreneurial type, your best bet may be starting your own eco-friendly business. Learn more about how to do that at Entrepreneur.com.

Recommended Reading

The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones
Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade
Top 25 Green Gigs & Their Salaries
Get a Job: Top 10 Guides to Finding the Perfect Eco Career
Great Green Careers
Opportunities for Green Growth: Myths and Realities About Green Jobs
Why Obama’s Green Jobs Plan May Work

Photo credit: Green for All

10 Must-Read Articles for Green Job Hunters

So, the employment situation in America is looking mighty gloomy. That’s cause for anyone to worry, even if they’re not among the hundreds of thousands laid off in recent months – so preparing a back-up plan is a popular thing to do right about now. That beacon in the darkness? It’s the green collar job market. While so many other industries are laying people off, green businesses are growing, and there are thousands of green jobs to be had.

Green Gigs, a blog that posts daily lists of green telecommuting opportunities, came up with this list of 10 articles you should read if you’re seeking an environmental job or just want to get some info preemtively.

1) Get a Job: Top 10 Guides to Finding the Perfect Eco Career – TakePart: Where better to start then a list of must read environmental career guides?

2) Great Green Careers – CNNMoney Fortune: Learn how people are making green livings with this article that profiles five professionals and their chosen green career paths.

3) Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade – Fast Company: Okay, you know you want a green career, but which to choose? Take a gander at this list of the ten hottest green jobs. Farming anyone?

4) Switching To Green-Collar Jobs -BusinessWeek: Just because you’re not a trained “green” professional, doesn’t mean you can’t forge a green career using your own expertise.

5) Opportunities For Green Growth: Myths and Realities About Green Jobs – Center for American Progress Action Fund: Go straight to the source – read Van Jones’ testimony before Congress regarding the realities of creating green jobs.

6) Where are the New Jobs for Women? – The New York Times: Uh-oh, all was going well until it was pointed out that most green jobs are dominated by males.

7) The ‘Green Jobs’ Myth – The Wall Street Journal: Hmmm…see what those in the EU have to say about U.S. “green jobs”.

Hot ‘Green’ Jobs Keep Evolving – U.S. News & World Report – Just what is a “green job”?

9) Why Obama’s green jobs plan may work – Los Angeles Time: It’s not all gloom and doom, maybe there is hope for a green economy.

10) Green industries offer job growth opportunity – msnbc: Yes, I knew it!

Check back with us early next week for the EarthFirst guide to nabbing a green job – info on how to prepare, which industries are the most promising and how to apply.

Link [Green Gigs]
Photo credit: Rainforest Action Network

‘Green For All’ Fights to Lift People Out of Poverty

In this tough economy, there has been a lot of talk about a green stimulus package and the promise of green jobs. But while politicians and pundits figure out how to best implement those goals, Green For All has been busy creating the blueprints for an inclusive green economy, strong enough to lift people out of poverty (see our profile of Green for All founder Van Jones).

From the Green For All website:

What’s the best way to give Americans of all socioeconomic backgrounds a tangible stake in fighting for issues like global warming? Easy: Make it their livelihood. Every day, about 135 million people go to work in the U.S. Imagine what would happen if millions of those jobs—plus new ones created for people who are currently unemployed—were in fields like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green building.

Solar RichmondBUILD at work:

Green For All is hosting a track of the upcoming Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference in D.C. from February 4th-6th. So if you’re in town, be sure to check out interesting panels like Prison Re-Entry & Green Jobs and Youth, Culture & Making Green Jobs Cool.

High Standards for Businesses Wanting in on Obama’s Green Stimulus

Businesses that want a piece of President-elect Obama’s green stimulus plan will have to jump a number of high hurdles in order to qualify. The Obama administration’s stimulus package is expected to range between $675 billion to $775 billion, and to get a piece of the pie, corporations will have to meet some strict criteria.

Projects will have to be green, ‘shovel ready’, short-term and job producing in order to qualify for funding. Obama’s team is interested in projects that will push America toward a greener, cleaner energy future while also producing economic benefits – and everyone from the nuclear power industry to Dow Chemical thinks they have projects that meet those standards.

From Business Week:

First, the projects must be “shovel-ready”—that is, ready to go immediately. “They told us that for business to get anything, we have to prove there’s a short-term job impact—within six months,” explains Brent Erickson, vice-president of the Biotechnology Industry Assn. (BIO), which is pushing for biofuels production incentives. But the projects can’t put Uncle Sam on the hook to spend money for more than a year or two. “They have to be temporary, not creating a permanent need for funding,” says Dow Chemical (DOW) lobbyist Peter Molinaro.

One proposal generating buzz predicts more than 7 million jobs from a $171 billion investment to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and homes. Commercial property owners would get short-term tax reductions, and homeowners could lower mortgage payments if they boosted their energy efficiency or amounts of renewable energy. Homeowners would get their interest rates cut to, say, 3% if they paid for home energy audits and enough insulation and other improvements to cut usage by 75%. “It gets people back to work in a way that’s extremely positive,” says Edward Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, the Santa Fe (N.M.) research group that devised the plan.

The Obama team isn’t about to fall for any greenwashing attempts by corporations who just have dollar signs dancing in their minds. All claims made in relation to getting in on the stimulus package must be backed up with hard evidence. As a result, companies are hiring consulting firms to help them figure out just how many jobs they can create.

With so many green projects in the pipeline, 2009 is shaping up to be a promising year for sustainability. No doubt there will be a lot of bumps on the road, but we’re at least headed in the right direction.

Link [Business Week]

Al Gore says “Go Vote for the Environment!”

Former Vice President Al Gore sat down in a live webcast with PowerVote.org to talk about the importance of getting out the “climate vote” in this election. Power Vote, a national non-partisan effort spearheaded by the Energy Action Coalition, is encouraging voters to go to the polls with energy and the environment on their minds. Sign the pledge to make clean, just energy a top priority in your vote this election.

Forbes: America’s Hottest Green Job Markets

Amidst all of the gloomy news out of Wall Street lately, Forbes.com is offering up a beacon of hope: the green job market.  Green jobs will be available by the millions in the coming years, and if you’re wondering where the best places to snag them are, check out Forbes.com’s new list of the hottest green job markets.  Unsurprisingly, big cities claim most of the spots on the list.

From Forbes.com:

No. 1: New York, N.Y.

The looming prospect of layoffs on Wall Street could be a blessing in disguise for the nation’s largest green jobs market–New York City. The Big Apple reported more than 25,000 green jobs in 2006. By 2038, New York’s green economy could generate nearly 200,000 jobs, many in architecture, engineering and design. If a lot of super-ambitious, ultra hard-working investment bankers suddenly find themselves out of work, odds are they’ll reinvent themselves in the green space.

No. 2: Washington, D.C.

In January, the CIA opened the first of two new buildings designed to comply with green building standards. Interestingly, the CIA is a relative latecomer to the green game in the nation’s capital. In the past two years, the nation’s largest landlord–the U.S. government–has put energy efficiency high on its list of priorities. Ultimately, the investment could generate substantial returns the federal government in the form of lower energy costs for the more than half-million buildings it oversees. It can add sparking the growth of a green jobs market in the capital to the list.

Check out the rest of the list at Forbes.com.

If the future for your job market is looking decidedly bleak, now’s a great time to start thinking about how you can parlay your skills in the green market.  Everyone from salespeople and factory workers to engineers and marketing experts will be able to make the shift to a more secure future.  Watch for EarthFirst’s ‘great green job of the week’ every week, and check out the job board at Treehugger.com.

Link [Forbes] + [Treehugger]

Green Oil Recycling Plant Opens in Ohio

Northeast Ohio is now home to America’s first oil recycling plant, which removes contaminants from used transformer oil so that it can be re-used.  The Hydrodec plant has brought dozens of new green jobs to the Cleveland area, helping to replace lost manufacturing jobs.

From The Washington Post:

The plant removes contaminants in a process with virtually zero emissions from oil that otherwise would be burned off and generate carbon dioxide, he said.

Transformer oil generally lasts about 10 years and Cowan estimates that U.S. utilities annually discard about 120 million gallons.

One advantage Hydrodec’s recycled oil offers is price stability, Cowan said. Transformer oil is made from crude oil and therefore linked to its price fluctuations.

It’s a small step, but it’s important. Not only do companies like these address important environmental issues like carbon emissions and oil usage, they add to the green revolution that’s gaining steam across the country. We definitely need more green jobs like these!

Link [The Washington Post]

Van Jones: A Green Bailout Would be Twice the Bang for Half the Bucks

The historic $700 billion bailout package might – might – avert a total economic meltdown.  But, it’s probably not going to stop America from going into a recession.  So believes Van Jones, and he’s taken to The Huffington Post to explain why a ‘green bailout’ would be a better idea.  A $350 billion investment in green energy could provide millions of new jobs, boost the economy and help us move forward into clean energy independence.

From The Huffington Post:

A new report just released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors says that we can create over 4 million green jobs if we aggressively shift away from traditional fossil fuels toward alternative energy and a significant improvement in energy efficiency.

Another report just released by the Political Economy Research Institute and the Center for American Progress shows that the U.S. can create two million jobs over two years by investing $100 billion in a green economic recovery plan. The report also shows that this investment would create four times more jobs than spending the same amount of money within the oil industry.

Green For All and its partners are proposing a Clean Energy Corps that includes a revolving loan fund to finance the ambitious retrofitting of the nation’s building stock. An investment of less than $3 billion per year would provide financing and can be expected to create close to 120,000 green jobs a year and 600,000 over five years, while also lowering home heating and electricity bills for homeowners and small businesses.

As Jones points out, a green economic package like this would be expensive up front but would pay for itself in energy savings and in tax dollars generated by new jobs and businesses.  Read more about the Clean Energy Corps proposal at the Green for All website.  Jones also goes into greater detail of his vision for a better future in his new book, The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems.

Link [The Huffington Post] + [Green for All]

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