Central Texas is leading the green charge. Government money is currently pouring into training and funding for Green Collar jobs in an effort to have a skilled workforce to meet the demand for green jobs.
Signed into law in February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the stimulus bill dedicates about $36.5 billion in energy efficiency and almost $8 billion in renewable energy to promote job creation via the following significant provisions that increase demand for services which ultimately will increase new jobs:
· $5 billion to weatherize homes of one million low‐income families
· $6.3 billion for energy‐related grants to states
· $4.5 billion to retrofit federal buildings, and
· $11 billion for modernization of the nation’s electric grid.
This funding will result in a demand for trained green professionals who are capable and willing to work on these government funded projects. The money is already set aside and is waiting for the green workers of tomorrow to step forward.
And the opportunities will continue to increase as Green Energy is one of the current Presidential Administration’s top priorities. President Obama was quoted as saying, “no single issue is as fundamental to our future as energy.” This statement is being echoed all across America and in Central Texas as communities turn toward green energy.
Government money for training is coming from two main federal agencies.
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor has $750 million available for a program to provide competitive grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industries. Of this amount $500 million is directed for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Department of Energy
The stimulus bill provides $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including $2.5 billion to support applied research, development, demonstration and deployment of advanced energy technologies.
According to Workforce Solutions ‐ Capital Area Workforce Board, green jobs are attractive for a number of reasons which have a broad appeal:
· They are good jobs offering good wages. Like blue‐collar jobs they offer an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the nation’s middle class.
· Many green jobs require some level of post‐secondary education and/or training, but many also require less than a bachelor’s degree. They provide career pathways that can help lead low‐income individuals out of poverty and into self‐sufficiency as well as move our economy forward through convergence with our regional high tech industry sector to produce opportunities for those with advanced education.
· Green jobs are local jobs. They tend to be jobs that cannot be off‐shored which has happened to much of the country’s manufacturing sector
· Green jobs contribute to preserving and protecting the environment and enhancing the quality of life in general.
There is currently a central Texas taskforce working to train/retrain up to 25,000 Central Texas residents for green jobs. To quantify what value these 25,000 jobs would have for the region, if an average weekly wage of $1158 is projected for 2016 (2008 weekly wage is $914 a year, and assuming a 3% per year increase) These 25,000 jobs would constitute a yearly payroll of $1.5B for the region.
12 different categories of jobs have been identified as possible as a result of the growing green industry:
· Grid Design and Modeling
· Network and Communication Engineers
· Professional Engineers – Large Scale industrial PV
· Design and Layout Technicians
· Solar Technicians
· Solar Installers
· Electric Grid Technicians
· Mechanics and Technicians
· Journeyman Trades Skills
· Accredited Trainers
· Certified Energy Auditors and Inspectors
· Sustainability Managers
· Solar Manufacturing
· Sales and Distribution
The following jobs have been identified as those most likely to grow as a result of the Green Industry
· Electricians
· Plumbers
· Carpenters
· HVAC Technicians/Installers
· Weatherization Technicians
· Building Inspectors/Energy Auditors
· Roofers
· Construction Managers
· Project Managers*
· Energy Analysts*
· PV Solar Installers/Technicians
· Welders
· Engineers (civil, electrical, and mechanical)*
· Engineering Technicians
· Instrumentation/Control Technicians
· Grid Design & Modeling Engineers*
· Power Plan Operators
· Electric Grid Technicians
· Power‐Line Installers & Repairers
· Manufacturing Technicians
· Maintenance & Repair Workers
*Indicates a job that requires a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
But before anyone can take advantage of these new jobs they must be trained in the latest Green Building science.
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Data and quotes from the Austin Chamber of Commerce Green Job Task Force Initiative Report June 2009
