Techdiplomacy

On Saturday December 8, 2008, I posted “Green Jobs An Idea whose Time Has Come”. In the post I explained green jobs and what the term meant. Due to the number of questions I get about the subject, I will clarify the matter with the following text. In the meantime, please take a look at the post I mentioned earlier. You can locate it in the archive for December.

Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance, was interviewed by Time Magazine in 2008 before the presidential election. He gave his thoughts concerning the subject. He included green collar jobs, cleaning up the environment, controling global warming and creating a new type of employment. Some of the most prestigious universities have done significant work involving perfecting renewable energy’s mainstays, wind and solar power, thereby increasing the potential for creation of green jobs. There has been significant work in the private sector by research institutions and the academic community in general. The ‘thinktank’ RAND Corporation, University of Tennessee and others have found that if 25% of all American energy were produced from renewable sources by 2025, we would generate at least 5 million new green jobs. Today, I’ll try to explain what is a green-collar job? Where could you find those jobs ? Phil Angelides is the chair of the Apollo Alliance as well, a coalition of business, labor and environmental groups trying to bring green employment to the forefront. This is the way Mr Angelides defined green jobs in the interview by Time, “It has to pay decent wages and benefits that can support a family. It has to be part of a real career path, with upward mobility. And it needs to reduce waste and pollution and benefit the environment.” If you make wind turbines or solar panels, your job is green. Mr. Angelides and his groups are trying to broaden the definition of ‘green job’. They would like a green-collar job to be anything that helps America to a cleaner, energy efficient future. That means jobs in the public transit sector, jobs in green building, jobs in energy efficiency, traditional, blue-collar manufacturing jobs, as long as what you’re making is green. “You don’t want to greenwash,” says Angelides. “You don’t want to call something a green-collar job that doesn’t have the wages or background to support it.” Environmental groups like the Apollo Alliance say that the new green American economy will actually create millions of new jobs. Someone will produce alternative power, increase energy efficiency and overhaul wasteful buildings. Angelides notes that between now and 2030, 75% of the buildings in the U.S. will either be new or substantially rehabilitated. Our inefficient, and unstable electrical grid will be overhauled. The jobs that will go into that kind of work should be green-collar. “Green jobs will not only exist in new technology fields” like solar energy, says Angelides, whose group is calling for a $300 billion investment in green jobs over the next 10 years. “We’ll be creating jobs in the industrial sector.” One of the supporters of the Apollo Alliance is the United Steelworkers Alliance, labor leaders see green jobs as a way to fight outsourcing and keep manufacturing jobs here in America.
The creation of green-collar jobs can convince skeptical, blue-collar Americans that they have an economic stake in climate change.​

Below is a compilation of definitions with questions to help trigger questions and increase discussion.  The people who compiled these points are too numerous to mention, however they have my thanks. The current “Green Collar Worker” definition at Wikipedia reads,       “A green-collar worker is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, or in the agricultural sector.” Should green collar only cover environmental or agricultural sectors? Is an industry-based approach appropriate? Would a green collar worker be involved with the science of developing technologies that help produce more efficient energy or power systems? Could we develop something more inclusive which provides an indication of intent? Let’s look at a “Green Collar Job” definition. The short radio program, “the Environminute” stated, “Green collar jobs are blue collar jobs that help protect the planet.” A broader definition that seems to be role-based. A role-based approach is good but what if you are merely “conserving or preserving” that planet? What if you are just doing a job that produces little or no waste? Does this definition add confusion by defining something with an ambiguous term like “blue collar.” Will additional research reveal similar problems back in the days of the industrial revolution when folks were trying too define blue-collar worker?  Separately, Wikipedia, defines a Blue Collar worker as, “a member of the working class who performs manual labor and earns an hourly wage.” Is this also too exclusive? Must Green Collar Workers perform jobs which pay hourly? Do Green Collar Workers need to do manual labor to be considered green? RAQUEL PINDERHUGHES, Ph. D. definition in her Green Collar Jobs case study for the city of Berkeley, California states in part, “Green collar jobs are blue collar jobs in green businesses – that is, manual labor jobs in businesses whose products and services directly improve environmental quality (Pinderhughes, 2006).” Does this occupational-based approach to defining “Green Collar Jobs”, exclude folks that work behind a desk on a computer?  What about folks building websites iike this one) which in turn, support green efforts? Could we include folks that invest in “Environmentally-Friendly Portfolios,” as Green Collar Workers? What about salaried, County workers that are researching and implementing sustainability plans? Could politicians that sign and act in accordance with green sustainability pledge during their term in office be considered Green Collar Workers? The UNEP, ILO, ITUC GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE Report and GreenforAll orgnizations shoot a bit higher in their definition of Green Collar Jobs, “Green-collar jobs, as we define them, are wellpaid, career track jobs that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality. Like traditional blue-collar jobs, green-collar jobs range from low-skill, entry-level positions to high-skill, higher-paid jobs, and include opportunities for advancement in both skills and wages.” Is the “opportunity for advancement” inclusion important? is this more of an outcome-based approach?  In a more recent report commissioned and funded by UNEP, also as part of the joint UNEP, ILO, IOE, ITUC Green Jobs Initiative you can find this Green Collar Jobs definition,  “We define green jobs as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.” Should the following questions also be considered when attempting to define the term, “Green Collar Worker” or “Green Collar Jobs” in Hawaii?   1. Should the definition of a Green Collar Worker be different depending on location?  For example, where you live has great impact on the way you work and what you do for work. A Green Colla Worker specializing in water systems might be involved in diverse occupations such as harvesting, treatment, delivery, research and education. We may find differences in impact, skills and success metrics among green workers in sandy deserts vs. the rain forests of Mountain View.   2. 2. Is the context in which you live or work in important to how you personally define a Green Collar Worker? A so-called, “Green Collar” means one thing to a researcher studing photo-voltaics and something potentially different to a farmer using sustainable growing techniques. An educator teaching green design may define a Green Collar Workers differently than a hydropower technician at the local power company. Similar differences in definition might exist between a LEEDS certified building contractor and a web professional using a green data center and energy efficient-coding standards to build online websites. 3. Is an outcomes-based approach the best dtermining factor? The workers intent may have a direct affect on the environment surrounding the worker on and off duty. Should the worker’s past performance be considered? Do commercial hazardous materials handlers have a special responsibility in the context of the environment? Are some workers inclined to be “greener” than others?   Is the term, “Green Collar Worker” a living or still evolving term? Is the definition actually changing as our understanding of a greener, more sustainable planet evolves? A somewhat innate understanding seems to exist. A solid understanding may eventually lead to NAICS job codes but for now local definitions need to exist to facilitate communication.  Know the difference between “Green Collar Jobs” and “Green Collar Workers”, workers are human beings, jobs are not.
This topic, like all the others shown here is open for discussion, make comments and submit questions, we will respond. See you around the galaxy…

There is some conversation about money when people discuss renewable energy. They want to know if they can in some way profit from the industry.

Renewable energy provides several ways to make an income from this new and vital industry. The opportunities are there, we simply must find an opening. Solar and wind generation devices must be manufactured, and renewable energy must be installed, so to speak.

Wind turbine power is an industry that saw widespread growth last year. How does one make money from any of this? There is a need to seek that which has not been “done to death”. You could invest, or you could involve yourself in the manufacturing/installation end of the business. Once again seek “the road least traveled by.” I will attempt to provide useful information to anyone desiring a way to success in renewable energy.

The branch of renewable energy that is very busy now is wind power. It’s the first source we will investigate. Generation of wind power is usually expedited by the use of wind turbines. The ways to profit from this are infinite. We’ll take a look at all of them, if we can. The obvious ways are not necessarily the best ways. I will take you through the steps that will gain us the best results. I hope you will gain some insight from this post, it is information gleaned from the top marketing and manufacturing experts in the US.

Manufacturing wind turbines is an employee dominated avocation. By that I mean a large number of people are required to manufacture the turbines and to install them. The first thing you have is marketing the product or concept. You advertise and you sell people your idea or product. Renewable energy does not need hard sell tacticts. We’ll stick to the facts. With wind turbines we’ll need to find an acceptable way to present our product to our target group of consumers.

If you want to keep your operation small, then any advertising you do should only include your local audience. By that I mean, use the local newspapers and magazines for your print ads, and call local radio and any TV stations operating in your area.

Before we go any further, let me say that in this post I won’t tell you how to manufacture or install anything. I will provide information that will enable you order inexpensive E-books that will give you that kind of instruction. Otherwise this would go on forever.

When you you advertise make sure that you inform your potential customers who will be responsible for the work. That is to say, you will be responsible for all of the work, it does’nt matter who actually does the work. You will hire private contractors to do your work, just make sure they have good reputations.

Let’s take a look, you may save them a great deal of money, simply by installing a wind turbine . There is not a city in the country that will not grant the permits. That being the case you will have free reign to sell your product. You would be surprised at the number of customers you will have.

So advertise and I guarantee that you will make money. The next step is to educate yourself about your product. The more you know about your product, the better. Don’t assume anything, let everyone know that you are an expert in your field. People will have faith in your product and make a purchase if you seem to be an expert.

The next step is to network, you’re offering a product will save money for those that choose to use it. Most cities have sites on the web geared to report on local events. This is not advertising that will cost you money. This is ‘free’, and will not cost you anything. The writers for these entities will seek you out if you can generate interest in your product(s). Press releases, social media, word of mouth, are all legitimate ways to generate interest. Once again, I will provide links to material that will help you in these areas at the end of this post.

This post is not finished, it will be continued at a later date. Anyone desiring the links I referred to iin this post may write their requests in the comment area of this post. I will get them to you ASAP, see you next time. Please remember, this is the end of the beginning.

Renewable Energy Powered Aerogenerator

The utility giant based in Atllanta called the Southern Co., CEO David Ratcliffe spoke before a group of electrical and electronic engineers.  The group was a meeting of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers engaged in sustainable energy projects.  The main focus of his speech was the unlikely probability that renewable energy sources could give America energy independence.  This would be independence from foreign oil, coal, or fossil fuel of any type.  He did espouse the virtue of nuclear power of which Southern has a few nuclear power stations to their credit.  He never mentioned any inherent danger in using nuclear power or storing it’s waste.  He made it clear that Americans will have to get used to pollution, and dangerous power stations in the form of nuclear. 

He did relate that he ‘wished’ that we could have energy independence, however it just was not possible at this time.  Unfortunately he was ‘preaching to the choir’ when he spoke to this group of engineers.  I started my career as an engineer in the nuclear power industry with a ’side’ of fossil fuel.  The chief engineer of the major engineering firm that I worked for gave a speech at the orientation that they held for the newly hired engineers.  This was in the mid 70’s and he spoke the word environmentalist several times as though he were saying the foulest of curse words.  This was accepted in those days and I suppose in some quarters it is still accepted.  Otherwise, in 2008, how would the industry get bright young engineers to destroy their own environment?  Sadly engineers in that industry don’t dare speak the truth about what they are doing for fear of losing their positions.  This is a problem that those of us who want to save our environment must overcome.  We must support President Obama and help the public to understand how much work needs to be done.

Oprah Winfrey, a great humanitarian, with regard to her problems with weight gain said this as part of a metaphor to explain her problem.  I’m paraphrasing, ‘environmentalists spend a lot of time looking for sources of energy that are renewable’!?  I know that M’s Winfrey, if given the chance would like to retract that part of her statement.  She goes on to say that renewable energy for those with weight problems are their feet.(?)  I’m sure she wasn’t thinking these statements through because there is solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy available to those of us that consider ourselves ‘environmentalists’, so we aren’t looking for renewable energy resources.  We are looking for a way to get the establishment to see that we must change the way we power our society and switch to renewable energy sources. 

When Mr Ratcliffe of Southern Co. made his speech, several groups dismissed his statements as people who know that the end of their reign is near and are trying to hang on to the old ways.  They are correct, we are going to see more and more of this kind of thinking from the old ’smoke stack’ boys, I know, I used to be one of them.  I am still afraid that the spectre of windfall profits brought to an end in the power generation business, will develop into an intellectual duel with the oil companies and power companies wanting to keep the status quo, and environmentalists wanting to put an end to business as usual.

The clear truth is that alternative energy in the form of renewable energy resources can and will give the American people back prosperity and pride in the feeling of accomplishment we will have from saving our environment and our economy as well.  The number of ‘green’ jobs gained will be in the millions, the long term gain from our efforts are incalculable.  We should get behind our new president and support his ideas for using renewable energy to power our society and get our economy moving again.  Even the auto industry can be saved if they change their focus and forget about vehicles that require liquid fuel.  But that is another story altogether.

Today (09-27-2008) is The Green Jobs Now National Day of Action, and many events have been planned to bring about awareness of this work. Several environmental and activist groups are trying to convince our elected officials to invest in creating ‘green collar’ jobs, millions of jobs. This seems to be a daunting task, however I agree with their ideas. If we commit to using clean renewable energy we can do this.
The largest gains in employment when we convert would be in retooling manufacturing facilities, building solar power facilities, solar panel fabrication and installation, weatherization of existing buildings, wind farms, manufacturing wind turbines, water conservation, organic product marketing, repairing the infrastructure and training our citizens in the new technology. Most of the training would be simple as there aren’t any complicated issues where renewable energy is concerned.
This is a way to become involved in the actual creation of these jobs. You have to convince your power company that you don’t want your power to come from coal, nuclear, gas or any of the other fossil fuels that are producing greenhouse gas and literally killing us! You are a customer of the power company in your area, your opinion is important. The power companies don’t have to buy fossil fuels, they may buy solar, wind, geothermal and any combination of renewable energy sources. The problem is they don’t buy renewable energy sources, and they have no incentive to do so. That is why we have to force this issue. In this country coal fired power plants are responsible for 80 percent of electricity’s global warming pollution. Less than five percent of the energy we use in the U.S. is from renewable energy sources. We have very little choice, we have to try and convince the power companies that control our futures in more ways than one.
We can make everyone listen including the policy makers. The policy makers will listen because we control their fates and once again the power companies must listen to their customers.
America does not have any products that we make in our own country anymore. We don’t have oil to speak of, we don’t manufacture anything. What we have are people. That is what we have to start to exploit. Our people are strong and imaginative, together we can achieve our goals of clean energy and a new economy based on the creation of ‘green collar’ jobs.
The government should get behind the industries that will serve to clean up our environment. They will create ‘green collar’ jobs. A green collar job is a blue collar job that’s been upgraded to respect the environment. There should be good benefits and wages that will support families tied to these ‘green collar’ jobs. We would solve several of mankind’s problems with this solution. We will start to repair our environment and we will put millions of people back to work. I hope the events planned for 9/27/2008 go well we need to bring attention to a situation that has it’s own problems and now there are answers. The organization Green Jobs Now would have it that we can invent and invest our way out of our current problems. They have been proven right by countries all over Europe. America has to catch up.
We will create jobs and lasting new businesses, small and large, that will provide an economic future for us all. The green revolution is re-powering America. We will create ‘green collar’ jobs and ‘green collar’ careers will be born, lasting careers with futures as long lasting as renewable energy. That is to say they (green collar careers) probably will last forever.