The Green Economy
A green job (also called a green-collar job) is any job that might help reduce carbon emissions. This might include installing solar planels, engineering more efficient ways to power our homes, teaching kids how to recycle, planning wind turbine farms, showing people how to consume less, planting trees, working in local government to encourage renewable energy, etc. Whatever it is, a green job helps to reduce total energy use and environmental impact.
This article from TIME magazine helps to explain.
Colorado's Green Economy
Fortunately for us, Colorado is at the forefront of green jobs. A perfect storm of wind, solar and biofuels puts our state at the top of this list in terms of clean energy compatability. Our governor and state government is focused on funding clean energy inititatives and working to create green jobs in the Colorado economy. The future could hold some great things for Colorado if our politicians continue to work for these policies:
- Wages paid to CO workers could increase a net total of $570 million.
- State GDP could increase by $1.9 billion by 2020.
- Green corporations like Vesta, a leader in manufacturing wind turbines will continue to set up factories in our state. Vesta has already brought 2,500 green jobs to CO- in Pueblo, Brighton and Windsor.
Obama's Plan
The Obama administration considers tackling climate change one of it's top three priorities. The White House has already pointed more than $60 billion dollars towards clean energy investment! Projects will include:
- A more efficient electric grid to move rural renewable energy to urban centers and to homes ($11 billion)
- Low-income home weatherization ($5 billion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMERwl7FuyQ
- Greening federal buildings ($4.5 billion)
- Grants to invest in renewable technology innovation ($2 billion)
- Green jobs training and implementation ($600 million)
- Put 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015
- Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050
For more about what President Obama plans to do about climate change, watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvG2XptIEJk
"So we have a choice to make. We can remain one of the world's leading importers of foreign oil, or we can make the investments that would allow us to become the world's leading exporter of renewable energy. We can let climate change continue to go unchecked, or we can help stop it. We can let the jobs of tomorrow be created abroad, or we can create those jobs right here in America and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity."
-President Obama, March 19, 2009