Earth Day 2009: Green Jobs Can Be Good Jobs
On Earth Day 2009, there is a growing recognition that green jobs will play a key role in fighting global warming, creating energy self-sufficiency, helping the nation recover from the current recession and moving workers into stable middle-class jobs.
During a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing this morning, David Foster, executive director of the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership of four unions and two environmental organizations, said in this economic crisis, creating jobs is a priority, and by passing climate change legislation this year, we can start putting America’s workers back to work building the clean energy economy.
To protect the environment and increase our energy independence, climate change legislation must focus on creating and retaining good, family-sustaining green jobs across the United States.
IBEW Local in Portland, Ore., Goes Green
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You need look no further than Electrical Workers Local 48 to see the union movement’s commitment to creating good green jobs and protecting our environment.
The Portland, Ore., local is installing a solar array at its union hall. When completed, the all-union project not only will provide 40 percent of the local’s electrical usage for the next 30 years, but also will be used to train members on the design and installation of solar arrays.
Local 48’s project highlights the efforts by the union movement to transform the struggling economy through a range of environmental investments in green technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
