There is a tidal wave of green jobs approaching California, and we are only beginning to see it crest, according to speakers at the San Diego Green Jobs Symposium held June 17.Sponsored by a consortium of organizations, educational centers, businesses and the City of San Diego, the afternoon meeting explored opportunities to expand the region’s green workforce. Discussion focused on local efforts to understand the workforce needs of emerging and evolving green industries that will meet the demands of state and federal initiatives to increase alternative energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Commenting on a recently completed study evaluating green job opportunities in California, Chuck Flacks of the San Diego Workforce Partnership said the largest high-growth areas will be in construction, specifically green building and retrofitting, energy efficiency and weatherization.
While some employment will simply entail incorporating green skills into existing jobs, other occupations will require specialized training. Training is needed for jobs such as solar system installer, wind turbine technician, energy auditor, energy manager, alternative fuel vehicle mechanic and others. Throughout California, local community colleges are responding by creating new occupational programs.
CCSE Executive Director Irene Stillings spoke about the green energy marketplace and federal stimulus funds that are beginning to move into the San Diego region providing funding for training grants, infrastructure projects and other green programs.
Stillings said a top priority is establishing energy efficiency as the foundation of all remodeling, retrofitting and new construction, because it is the easiest and cheapest way to reduce energy use. Energy efficiency also cuts down on the size and quantity of renewable energy systems, such as solar electric panels, helping to lessen consumer anxiety about up-front costs. New financing opportunities for property owners also will give a big boost to solar installations she said.
Several speakers compared the green job market to the information technology industry of 30 years ago when few people were involved in data processing and computer networking. Future jobs, said Reo Carr, associate publisher of the San Diego Business Journal, will be “green in ways we don’t know about today.”
Definitions
Green Firm: An organization that provides products and/or services that are aimed at utilizing resources more efficiently, providing renewable sources of energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions or otherwise minimizing environmental impact.
Green Job: An occupation that 1) directly works with policies, information, materials and/or technologies that contribute to minimizing environmental impact, and 2) requires specialized knowledge, skills, training or experience in these areas.
--From Centers of Excellence Green Industries & Jobs in California
Continue reading July's newsletter.
Annual Report 2010
Annual Report 2007
