Green Jobs Briefing: Oct. 22, 2008

Green Jobs: Re-energizing the American Economy
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2325 Rayburn House Office Building

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) invite you to a briefing held in conjunction with the House Climate Change Caucus to discuss the potential for green jobs in the United States and the policies needed to support them. As economic concerns and unemployment numbers continue to rise, policymakers are looking for ways to bolster the American economy and get people back into the workforce. An investment in research, development, and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies would help the United States emerge as a global leader in the new green economy and put millions of people to work. According to the American Solar Energy Society, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries created 8.5 million jobs in 2006. With the right policies, America could see significant growth in a broad range of domestic, clean energy jobs – everything from manufacturing, construction and installation to engineering, accounting and management.

Several recent reports highlight the opportunities for green jobs in the United States and around the world. This briefing provides an overview of two key reports: Green Recovery, produced by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with the Center for American Progress (CAP), and Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). In addition, the panel will include an industry representative to provide first-hand experience in the deployment of green jobs. Speakers for this event include:

* Michael Renner, Senior Researcher, Worldwatch Institute, author of "Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World"
* Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Collaborator for "Green Recovery"
* Mark Wagner, Vice President for Government Relations, Johnson Controls

Renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits, such as those just passed in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, play an important role in supporting businesses that develop wind, solar, and geothermal energy resources, among others. In addition, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 included provisions for "green" workforce development to assist this green transition. However, this provision has yet to be funded.

The global market value for environmental products and services is currently about $1.3 trillion, according to German-based Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, and is projected to be about $2.7 trillion by 2020. In addition to growing the economy, the transition to a new green economy will have co-benefits of strengthening energy security, improving water and air quality as well as public health, and reducing climate change-inducing greenhouse gas emissions.


This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.
For more information, please contact Amy Sauer at asauer@eesi.org or (202) 662-1892.