House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee
Green Collar Jobs
On Tuesday the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will explore the vast potential for the development of “green collar” jobs from increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy in the United States. A market transformation towards clean energy will require a new cadre of workers for everything from the research, design, and engineering of new energy systems to the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of clean technology investments. The range of jobs and skills requirements is wide, but the potential employment impact is substantial: in a recent analysis the Cleantech Venture Network estimated that as many as 500,000 new green collar jobs could be created by 2010. Increasing green collar jobs is also an opportunity to cultivate both economic and environmental benefits for many underserved communities.
Witnesses:- Jerome Ringo, President Apollo Alliance
- Van Jones, President and Co-Founder Ella Baker Center (Oakland, CA)
- Elsa Barboza, Campaign Coordinator for Green Industries at the Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE; Los Angeles, CA)
- Bob Thelen, Chief Training Officer, Capital Area Michigan Works!