Green Collar Workers Cultivate the Economy,
Part 1

by Andrea Millar — April 14, 2008

Back in December, President Bush uttered official recognition of climate change from sources of pollution and signed a bill that directed development of biofuels and mandated automakers to improve their mpg to 35 by 2020. Yeah, I know, I wasn't there either, but I swear it happened.

So this is good. Alternative fuel sources, diversification in technology, bluer skies, greener pastures. Imagine a statewide mandate that all structures have solar panels attached to generate electricity, or envision receiving a check with a note for you to please insulate your house properly, and for goodness sake, stop trying to heat up the backyard, as the earthworms don't much appreciate lukewarm soil. Xoxo your prez. Well, OK, maybe the 'xoxo' is a bit of a pipe dream, but it doesn't take much imagination to see that there is an increasing demand for green infrastructure.

But who's gonna build it? I don't know about you, but I have no idea how to get a solar panel up on the roof, much less 8. Or 12. Or double-paned windows. Sure, I can order them off the Internet, but I'm sure I'm going to reveal myself transparently inept if I carry out the installation process as per my usual make-it-up-as-I-go-along approach to all things requiring some assembly.

Luckily for me, Congress has also recently passed the Green Collar Jobs Act--"green collar" being the newest tag for a growing environmentally oriented workforce. It makes provisions for training vets, struggling farmers, inner-city youth, and displaced workers in green practices for the booming green building movement. Sustainability--both in the planetary and professional sense--is a key aspect of the bill, which neatly attempts to tackle unemployment and the rising costs of deploying green technology. With the increased demand in green restructuring, it's nice to know the government is responding with increased support.