Green Jobs Offer Hope In Blue Economy

January 5, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

While Detroit’s automakers are begging for $17.4 billion from taxpayers to prevent their collapse, 80 miles northwest of the city, Hemlock Semiconductor Corp announced a $3 billion expansion that could add 500 more jobs to its current workforce of 1,400, Los Angeles Times reports.

The announcement is a rare piece of good news for the battered Rust Belt state, which has the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 9.6 percent.

According to a recent study from the University of Massachusetts, a $100 billion investment in a green recovery could create 2 million jobs within two years; with a large percentage of the jobs in retrofitting.

There are no precise numbers on how many green jobs exist in the U.S. economy but estimates range from less than 1 million workers to nearly 4 million. Clean-energy industries have been growing even without help from the government. In 2007, investors poured a record $177.2 billion into alternative energy, according to New Energy Finance. But now as the economy slows, clean-energy advocates say U.S. government support is needed to move the sector forward.

Here are four areas in which Kevin Wilhelm, CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting, says Congress and the Obama Administration could work together to help promote “green” jobs and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader