The Future of Energy Security In the current U.S. election cycle the Democratic presidential candidates at least have been coming up with plans designed to court the green vote. Currently the plans seem largely modeled off each other. Whether any of these plans make it into practice or indeed any of the candidates make it into office will be seen over the coming year.Climate and energy may find themselves taking a backseat to other more pressing 'financial, currency & market' concerns in the US. However the Green Jobs Act of 2007 (HR2847) which has been flying low under the radar however is a bill that is likely to make it into law.Both the Senate and the House have approved it and it is waiting to be signed into law this year or early next.

Demonstrating SupportThis bill concerns itself with the sustainability sector on the level of allocating funds for green job training. Something that is becoming a byword on the local level among civic officials and those concerned with urban planning.

The Green Jobs Act of 2007 is a small bill that allots $125 million to the creation of 35,000 "Green Collar" jobs. The Green Jobs Corps will focus on creating clean, green jobs in a gray economy. Congresswoman Hilda Solis introduced this legislation in the House Committee on Education and Labor. The bill has been co-sponsored by Rep. John F. Tierney, Rep. Jerry McNerney, Rep. Albert Wynn, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Jay Inslee, and Rep. Barbara Lee.

This bill concerns itself with the sustainability sector on the level of allocating funds for green job training. Something that is becoming a byword on the local level among civic officials and those concerned with urban planning. It is not to be confused with the current energy bill languishing in Congress which is likely to be vetoed by the president because of language which might create the potential for anti-trust lawsuits against oil producers and also a requirement that utility companies must generate 15% of their energy from renewables. While the entrepreneurial sector of the clean and green tech industries is taking care of itself with venture capital money. There as definite recognized need to focus on training people to design, build, implement and install these new technologies. Many groups see that as a windfall for job creation. This gap exists in many countries but in the US in particular a shortage of trained personnel exists where sustainable industries are concerned. The have lagged partly due to the US administration's policy of not recognizing climate change as a fact and thus not providing stimulus to the developement of supporting industries. In our work in New York City we have both trained workers ourselves and run training programs in conjunction with NGO's and development organizations to train workers in the skillsets they need to do certain kinds of work. This also alerts them to the possiblities of jobs and business opportunities in the new Green or Clean Technology sectors. With the Green Jobs Bill more funds will available to organizations to start developing wider education programs. Its not a 'Bold and Comprehensive' plan, its more like a simple beginning to encourage education and wider participation in the Green Sector Economy.
Working for Energy Security the Old Fashioned WayMany groups and coalitions have pushed for the drafting and passage of this bill. One coalition called Green for All seeks to get more than $1 billion in green job development money to steer people out of poverty by the creation of Green Jobs. With 30 million or so individuals living below the poverty line in the U.S. these job training monies will be very welcome, epecially if they make it to the very people who need that training. Which seems possible as there are many NGO's, community organizations and others who would qualify for funds under the program parameters.There is the realization that there is large potential role for small and medium sized businesses to supply real needs and demand. And the are many people interesting in playing an increased role in creating more sensibly designed living environments, starting at the local level and working from the ground up. There is also the beginning of a realization among civic officials that it is necessary to re-involve neighborhoods and communities and not leave the process entirely to commercial developers. There is also a notion that a time of reckoning is upon us because of the necessity for doing EVERYTHING in an more energy efficient manner with less waste. So if $250 million is a small beginning, then candidate Hillary Clinton's plan would allocate $50 billion towards a 'Strategic Energy Fund' to fund investments in alternative energy, in other words direct to companies & industries developing new energy technologies. This plan, which elaborates many features of Barack Obama's (it was published a few weeks later) has many progressive features including cap and trade programs, encouraging carbon neutral construction and programs designed to stimulate the growth of more green industries.It also proposes an National Energy Council, something like a'National Energy Security Bureau' which might turn out to be a 'FEMA' like agency that will handle energy policy and planning as a strategic component of national security. Singapore, a city state, looks at energy and (natural) resources somewhat like that and has had a working national policy to that end for well over a decade.
Vulnerability & Security in the StraitsThe U.S. is however not a city state. The scale is much larger and a massive Pentagon type procurement system for the development of new energy sources is probably too 'good' an idea for any future administration to overlook. The opportunities for spending hundreds of billions of dollars will be limitless, a truly important consideration for any politician trying to secure their base constituency. In the meantime this paltry $250 million a year bill may sneak through and start promoting some change from the ground up. Lets hope so.But it is important not to confuse the media hype with political will. Though change is starting many new environmental or clean technology startups raise money and train people on almost the scale of cottage industries. Part of this is due to a strong bias against creating any kind of national policy to invest in new industries or train workers to participate in them. But also creating policy that illustrates the imminent demise of certain obsolescent industries and others who have chosen not to invest in their own innovation curve can strike at the very group who provides the political capital that puts and keeps politicians in power. These however are the 'parties' most likely to benefit in the creation of a centralized and supersized National Energy Security program.
Training for the FutureIn a nutshell:• Authorize $125 million in federal funds for job training programs in green sectors like energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electricity, energy efficient vehicles and more.
• Train 35,000 workers in clean and green industries.
• Provide green pathways out of poverty for young adults with barriers to employment, displaced workers, and veterans.Status:
The Senate and House have approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007 (H.R. 2847), Now President Bush only has to sign it and will become law. Barring any administrative sabotage in the bills implementation it will become the first major piece of legislation dealing with sustainability issues in the U.S. this century.
21st Century Planning for a Change