Green Jobs Programs to Drive Economic Recovery

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Green Jobs Programs to Drive Economic Recovery
By Julie Schwartz
Over the past few decades, the U.S. has failed to invest in the growth of both urban and rural America, leaving many families and communities struggling to make ends meet.  At the same time, we face an environmental crisis in the form of global climate change and the challenge of reducing our dependence on fossil fuel.
Our current economic crisis provides us an opportunity to reinvest in some of our countries most blighted areas.  In the words of the organization Green for All, "new transit spending and energy audits in inner cities to windmills and biomass in our nation's heartland, green jobs mean a reinvestment in the communities hardest hit in recent decades."  Correctly structured, a clean energy economy and green jobs can provide many low-income and currently unemployed individuals a bridge from poverty to economic independence.
For years, right wing activists propagated the myth that a strong environment and good jobs were incompatible.  The result of this divisive strategy was the undermining of both wage standards and environmental planning.  In recent years, however, environmentalist and labor advocates have formed new progressive alliances, working together to promote a clean energy economy with good green jobs that protect both our environment and our workers.
Now advocates for a clean energy economy and green jobs find themselves with a friend in the White House.  Since elected, President Obama has repeatedly articulated a commitment to addressing climate change issues and developing renewable energy sources, both to improve the environment and also as tools to help rejuvenate the worst economy since the Great Depression.  The $787 billion American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, passed to stimulate our economy, was mainly focused on putting people back to work.  Approximately $70 billion of this money was directed towards the nation's energy economy, most of it for "green" energy.  Specifically, the stimulus plan will shift federal funds into several energy-related areas, including but not limited to: $16.8 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs;  $5 billion to install energy efficiency improvements in the homes of low-income families; $4.5 billion to develop a digital electric grid and $100 million for the training of electric grid workers; and $3.4 billion for fossil energy research and development.  Even more recently, Vice President Biden announced plans to dedicate $500 million from the ARRA funds to train housing project residents to weatherize homes and perform other green jobs.
The economic recovery program could "create or save 2.5 million green jobs designing, building and maintaining renewable energy projects and increasing the energy efficiency of schools, homes and federal office buildings."  According to a recently published report 100 Days 100 Projects, it appears that even in a relatively short period of time the stimulus money has had some positive impact on the green job market.  According to President Obama, "n these last few months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs -- jobs building solar panels and wind turbines, making homes and buildings more energy efficient."
Economic Growth will only occur when America makes a 100% effort to go after Green
Renewable Energy Jobs for the poor and working class.
Dennis Spisak
Mahoning Valley Green Party
Ohio Green Party
www.ohiogreens.org
www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/