Wednesday
Jun172009
Green Jobs: Transforming The Blue Collar Worker Into The Green Collar Worker
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
Business and political leaders are joining forces to ensure the creation of more green jobs in the United States. Vice President Joe Biden headlined Wednesday’s Green Jobs Summit hosted by the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Summit participants, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), are investing in clean energy and committing the U.S. to generating a stronger, environmentally friendly economy.
“We have to act fast and we have to think of the future we want to build,” said Biden.
“The best part of building a clean energy economy [is that it] not only puts us on the path to a greener and more sustainable future but it necessitates the jobs that are going to get us there.”
Biden noted that the U.S. has to be competitive in the creation of a clean energy economy and become a leader in the twenty-first century. According to Biden, that means energy efficiency can not become an issue that gets put aside during the next four years.
The Vice President also said we have a moral challenge to make certain that the younger generations inherit a safe and clean planet.
“I am more optimistic about the place we are today. I’m more idealistic about what we can do today than I was when I was a 29 year old kid elected to the United States Senate in 1972. The slope is really steep but the opportunity is gigantic.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $787 billion dollar plan to stimulate the U.S. economy, was signed into law by President Obama in February 2009 and includes a three year extension of the renewable energy production tax credit which will be used to establish future investments in wind, geothermal, and biomass energy.
Business and political leaders are joining forces to ensure the creation of more green jobs in the United States. Vice President Joe Biden headlined Wednesday’s Green Jobs Summit hosted by the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Summit participants, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), are investing in clean energy and committing the U.S. to generating a stronger, environmentally friendly economy.
“We have to act fast and we have to think of the future we want to build,” said Biden.
“The best part of building a clean energy economy [is that it] not only puts us on the path to a greener and more sustainable future but it necessitates the jobs that are going to get us there.”
Biden noted that the U.S. has to be competitive in the creation of a clean energy economy and become a leader in the twenty-first century. According to Biden, that means energy efficiency can not become an issue that gets put aside during the next four years.
The Vice President also said we have a moral challenge to make certain that the younger generations inherit a safe and clean planet.
“I am more optimistic about the place we are today. I’m more idealistic about what we can do today than I was when I was a 29 year old kid elected to the United States Senate in 1972. The slope is really steep but the opportunity is gigantic.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $787 billion dollar plan to stimulate the U.S. economy, was signed into law by President Obama in February 2009 and includes a three year extension of the renewable energy production tax credit which will be used to establish future investments in wind, geothermal, and biomass energy.
Reader Comments (1)
I think it is fantastic how we are using renewable energy and going green in so many ways. I think we also need to do things like reducing our energy usage, like installing geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems.