The Blue Green Alliance is a unique and seemingly unlikely collaboration between environmentalists and union labor to move the country forward into the 21st century. Understanding that the future lies in green energy jobs and sustainability unionized labor like the United Steelworkers and groups like the Sierra Club recognized that a lot more can be done if we create jobs that already comply with clean air and water acts.
Launched in 2006 by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, this unique labor-environmental collaboration has grown to include the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, United Auto Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Developing locally owned renewable energy micro-grids is just one way to take matters into our own hands. While state and local leaders try to entice low paying dinosaur industries to our area by offering tax incentives and other incentives, the rest of us can create our own energy revolution right here and earn higher wages. Recently, the USA today reported
Clean-tech jobs offered median wages 20% higher across the United States in 2010, according to a report released today from researchers Brookings and Battelle. Such green jobs span industries ranging from solar-panel manufacturers to wind- and ocean-based energy production to electric-vehicle technologies.
Projects that I am already working on provide a healthy business model of what can be accomplished with or without the assistance of commissioners and council members. If projects are over 500kW even the local and ridiculous small wind moratorium imposed by the City of Coos Bay can be overridden by state regulators. In other words, in spite of the obstructions placed either deliberately or through ignorance by local “pro-business” individuals and entities it is still possible to move forward into the next century and establish a sustainable business platform in Coos County that will create long term family wage jobs.
I stand corrected, dirty old train, not bike.
A turtle vs hare point that incorrectly vilified bicycles.
Gene, as one who has eschewed use of an automobile for 30 years, I kind of resent the “old dirty bike” comment. You should know that bicycles are the cleanest transportation ever devised as well as one of the cheapest. And there is no connection to the energy company rip off.
Funny how closely they follow the rules when it suits them
And the BOC, past and present has a pattern of rubber stamping the process that’s required of it. Lots of legaleeze to make their decisions seem like the only choice available, even when public safety should be their paramount concerns, we were told that was not a question they could consider in their decision making process towards the Jordan Cove permit. Funny they will consider oysters over humans isn’t it.
You are right, Gene, the way the paper frames its questions affects the outcome. All things being equal, if people were given a choice between working for LNG, strip miners, or the coal industry versus wind energy or solar thermal they would choose to work in the clean industry. It is sad that SCDC and the Port have failed to present alternative choices for Coos County.
Once again I would like to remind everyone of who the world newspaper works for.
http://www.lee.net/
LEADING SOURCE OF LOCAL NEWS, INFORMATION & ADVERTISING IN 53 MARKETS
Bet they got some pretty sharp people working there.
Poll at the world:
Should the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay develop a terminal for exporting coal?
Yes. It would generate jobs and tax revenue 78%
No. We should focus on clean energy sources.22%
Total Votes: 265
Its apparent the people want any job offered, Of course the way the question is asked sets the results, when framed that way the answer is always going to be JOBS.
How about asking it like this:
would you like a job in renewables vote here
would you like a job in coal or LNG vote here
I expect the results would be quite different if they asked it different.
The world being an SCDC member has stacked that poll by phrasing it the way they did.
Training for Renewable energy jobs should be a priority for the college. I don’t know what happened to the plan to offer classes at the college, but they seem like a mirage, the closer we get to implementing some training in this state, the further it seems to move away, This is a response I got from Roger Ebbage, Director
Energy and Water Education Programs Northwest Energy Education Institute. This man has multiple credentials and highly respected in this arena.
Mr. Ebbage, I am a licensed Oregon contractor since 1992. Looking to the future of our state and needing to fulfill some continuing education requirements, I am inquiring about the availability of your course or another that you might be aware of and recommend to Oregonians living outside Lane county. I live in Coos Bay, I am not aware of any programs planned at our local community college, could you recommend some online classes towards certifications in wind and solar installations.
Thanks in advance
Hi Gene
We just canceled an online course due to low enrollment. Unfortunately there are not many available with in the state. Solar Energy International has a good entry level online course but its rather expensive. Otherwise I’m not sure of what else is out there. sorry
roger
That response was sort of expected, so my conclusion is that if you want training locally then your probably going to have to educate yourself, Some manufacturers of renewable products offer training specific to their products, but your going to have to travel out of the state, and make reservations early for those classes, and you should research those products carefully to make sure your time and money aren’t wasted. Things are changing fast, and you could find your interest obsolete before you’ve got your training complete.
For example, string inverters are necessary to combine multiple power modules. There are dozens on the market for all types of applications, and many of them could be displaced by micro-inverters entering the market, currently that’s only a one percent market share, but micro-inverters will probably dominate the market in the very near future. plug and play is on the way, with solar panels, and roof top wind turbines. Home depot and Lowes are set to release a line of products from Clarian that will allow Al and his friends the chance to drink beer and go solar on the weekend, Those are not very powerful products, but the simplicity is impressive.
http://www.clarianpower.com/wind.html
I’m not promoting these products, just pointing out whats in the pipe. Clarian is not the only player getting into plug and play renewables.
I went through a similar experience in the ninety’s with computers, got all the certifications, then watched many jobs go overseas, Now the IT industry is suffering, because of the successful home market and people are smarter about computers and don’t need the techies as much as they used too . I hope that doesn’t happen with renewables, but who knows.
Training for larger scale projects should still be pursued, and enticing Manufacturers of renewables should be the priority of SCDC, stop trying to bank on LNG and coal.
When the people want to take a high speed train and all the SCDC and the port offer is an old dirty bike to ride, we get very frustrated, as you can tell by this site.
Just my opinion