finding earth works - march 2009 findingearthworks.org “occasionally something different happens,...

Finding Earth Works - March 2009 findingearthworks.org

“Occasionally something different happens,

a collective awakening …that changes

everything…how people see the world,

what they value, how society defines

progress and organizes itself, and how

institutions operate. The Renaissance was

such a shift, as was the Industrial

Revolution. So, too, is what is starting to

happen around the world today.” Peter Senge, The Necessary Revolution


The Green Economy: Prepare for the Change

Building Skills ~ Making Connections

Commonwealth Workforce Coalition

March 2009


So what’s going on with the climate?


What is our energy situation today?


How’s our economy doing?


“Speed of job loss hints at a vast remaking of the US economy” NYT, March 7, 2009

• Unemployment rate 8.1%

• Those working part time but who want full-time work was 8.6 million; up 76.4% from a year ago

• Those who currently want a job was 5.6 million; up 19.2% from a year ago


“We have to seriously look at fundamentally rebuilding the economy. You’ve got to use

this moment to retrain for jobs.” Andrew Stettner, National Employment Law Project

• Stimulus bill includes $4.5 billion for job training

• “In current dollars, the nation devoted the equivalent of $20 billion to job training in 1979, compared with only $6 billion last year.”


What are ‘green’ jobs?


Apollo Alliance’s definition:

Green-collar jobs are well paid, career

track jobs that contribute directly to

preserving or enhancing environmental

quality.


Green-Collar Jobs… • Rebuild a strong middle class

• Provide pathways out of poverty

• Require some new skills (and some new thinking about old skills)

• Tend to be local jobs

• Strengthen urban and rural communities

• Protect our health and the health of the planet

definition from Green For All


Industry sectors• Energy

• Construction

• Transportation

• Material waste / Recycling /Deconstruction

• Toxicity

• Food / Agriculture

• Water

• Local Production


Job Projections


U.S. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries in 2030

Source: Management Information Services, Inc. and American Solar EnergySociety, 2008.

Revenues

(Billions of 2006 Dollars)

Total Jobs Created

(Direct Plus Indirect – Thousands)

Base Case

Moderate Scenario

Advanced Scenario

Base Case

Moderate Scenario

Advanced Scenario

RE $98 $212 $560 1,305 3,138 7,918

EE $1,818 $2,152 $3,933 14,953 17,825 32,185

Total $1,913 $2,379 $4,530 16,258 20,963 40,103


What kinds of jobs?


There will be some new jobs others will be refocused


Energy efficiency

• Energy Assessment / Auditing• Insulation• Air Sealing• Weatherization• Lighting Replacement• Boiler and HVAC System

Efficiency/Replacement• Residential / Commercial /

Industrial


Renewable energy

• Solar power• Wind power• Hydropower• Biomass • Geothermal power

• Installers• Maintainers• Designers • Manufacturing –

machining, sheet metal, lab tech

• Power plant operators• Research and

development


MA Clean Energy Sector:

• 14,400 jobs in clean energy cluster

• Now 10th largest industry in the state

• Surveyed executives expect 30% job growth in renewable energy firms and 25% for energy efficiency firms over the next year.

Mass Clean Energy Industry Census Report, August 2007, Mass Technology Collaborative


Specific skills are needed AND

• Readiness to work• Basic skills in math, writing,

communication, and analysis• Facility with computers• Ability to communicate technically and

plainly with customers• Ability to be flexible and adapt to change• Concern about the environment and the

community


• There is a premium on understanding the situation, systems thinking, making connections

• Because this is a watershed time in our global economy/structure, a lot is not yet known

• Key is being ready


Preparing for the change…

Math and Science

Individual Preparedness

Civics and Community Preparedness


Preparing for the change…

Work Readiness / Career Prep

• Being work ready

• Seeing how the economy is changing

• Knowing about green industry sectors

• Understanding training and career possibilities

• Being able to articulate the importance of ‘green’ work


Preparing for the change…Skill Training

• Partnered with industry, local employers

• Aligned with public workforce development system

• Articulated with advanced training and higher education

• Training for jobs balanced with growing an industry

• Short term and the long view


Panelists

• Maureen Huffam, Senior Human Resource Director, Conservation Services Group

• Kathy Agostinelli, Director of Human Resources, Evergreen Solar

• Pam Cargill, Project and System Support, Alteris Renewables


Q & A

• Write question on index card

• Put it in the basket

• We’ll synthesize

• Others answered online

• Make sure to share your email address


“The future will be green, or not at all.

This truth lies at the heart of human-

kind’s most pressing challenge:

to learn to live in harmony with the

Earth on a genuinely sustainable

basis.”Jonathon Porritt, Chairman of the UK Sustainability Commission


Finding Earth Works

• Staff training on the green economy

• Workshops for students, clients

• Facilitation for program/employer partnerships

• Online resources – www.findingearthworks.org

http://www.findingearthworks.org/

finding earth works - march 2009 findingearthworks.org “occasionally something different happens,...

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