Neil's "green" jobs workshop attracted about 100 representatives from business, education, and government to learn more about the future of "green" jobs in Hawaii and the availability of federal economic recovery funding that will help prepare our workforce for those opportunities. The workshop was held on June 22, 2009 at Honolulu Community College.
*******
Here's information about the conference and its agenda:
Abercrombie and top Obama advisor among speakers at conference on ‘greening’ of Hawaii’s economy
Honolulu, Hawaii – Rep. Neil Abercrombie is leading a workshop in Honolulu that will help begin the work that will prepare the public and private sectors in Hawaii to create “green” jobs and new business activity using the federal government’s economic recovery funds.
In addition to Abercrombie, the workshop will feature a video conference link to Washington, D.C. and Van Jones, President Obama’s Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Jones, TIME Magazine’s 2008 Environmental Hero, is the founder of “Green for All,” an organization that promotes green-collar jobs and opportunities for disadvantaged communities with a mission to build a green economy strong enough to resolve ecological problems and alleviate poverty. Jones is a globally-recognized pioneer whose work has involved the United Nations, the U.S. Congress, and Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection.
Congress passed—and President Obama signed—the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 earlier this year as part of a broad-based strategy that will create millions of jobs across the country while transforming the way we use and produce energy throughout the community.
The workshop in Honolulu will provide 100 representatives from business, government, and education with a look at how they can have a direct role in tapping federal recovery funds in creating "green" jobs. This effort was organized by Abercrombie in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, State Office of Community Services, University of Hawaii Community Colleges, and State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The workshop will cover topics such as current and emerging green job opportunities, green workforce development, the role of community colleges in educating a green workforce, developing and growing a green economy, the building industry’s role in this area, and renewable energy initiatives.
WHAT: “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Supporting the Aloha State to ‘Go Green’”
WHEN: Monday, June 22, 2009 from 8: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Honolulu Community College; 874 Dillingham Boulevard; Bldg. 2; Floor 2; Norman W.H. Loui Conference Center.
Registration is required due to space limitations.
******
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Supporting the Aloha State to “Go Green” Honolulu Community College - Norman Loui Conference Center Monday, June 22, 2009
Sam Aiona, Executive Director, State Office of Community Services
Bennette Misalucha Evangelista, President, Red Monarch Communications
Congressman Neil Abercrombie
8:10-8:50 a.m. Opportunities for Green Jobs in Hawaii - FEDERAL FUNDING PERSPECTIVE -
Ramona Mullahey, Operations Specialist
Rebecca Borja, Senior CPD Representative, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Tim O’Connell, Asst. to State Director/Rural Energy Coordinator U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
8:50-9:00 a.m. The Role of Community Colleges in Educating and Training Tomorrow’s Green Workforce
Dr. John Morton, Vice-President for Community Colleges University of Hawaii
9:00-9:30 a.m. “The Green Economy”
Van Jones, Special Advisor, Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, White House Council on Environmental Quality
9:30-9:45 a.m. Break
9:45–11:30 a.m. Educating and Training Tomorrow’s Green Workforce
James Hardway, Executive Director, Hawaii Workforce Development Council
Rolanse Crisafulli, Administrator City & County of Honolulu–Oahu WorkLinks
Lei Nakamura, Assistant Program Administrator City & County of Honolulu-YouthBuild
Isla Young, Program Manager Hawaii’s Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics(STEM) Initiative, MEDB Women in Technology Project, Statewide Coordinator for Project EAST
11:30-12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30-1:00 p.m. “The New Model for Workforce Development”
Laura Choi, Research Associate Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
1:00-2:15 p.m. Current and Emerging Green Jobs
I) Building Industry, Energy Efficiency and Green Retrofits
Industry Need
James Sullivan, Sustainability Coordinator, Actus Lend Lease
Green Advantage®
Mark Silliman, Dean of Transportation and Trades Honolulu Community College
Hawaii BuiltGreen
Karen Nakamura, Executive Vice President & CEO Building Industry Association (BIA) Hawaii
Energy Auditing and the Rating Systems
Mitchell Johnson, Pacific Sustainable Building Science, LLC
- Short Break -
2:30-3:15 p.m. Current and Emerging Green Jobs (continued)
II) Renewable Energy Initiatives
Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative
Ted Peck, Administrator Strategic Industries Division State Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Mark Duda, President Hawaii Solar Energy Association
3:15-3:45 p.m. Developing and Growing Green Communities
Alex de Roode, Executive Director Sustainable Living Institute of Maui
3:45-4:00 p.m. Wrap-up
Bennette Misalucha Evangelista, President Red Monarch Communications
*******
Highlights from the Center for American Progress June 18, 2009 Report:
“The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy” How the Economic Stimulus Program and New Legislation Can Boost U.S. Economic Growth and Employment
Report shows that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Markey-Waxman Climate Change bill can generate $150B per year in new clean-energy investments over 10 years- - dominated by private-sector investments.
Investment can generate a net increase of about 1.7 million jobs.
Research finds that Hawaii could see a net increase of about $620 million in investment revenue and 7,000 jobs -- even after assuming a reduction in fossil fuel spending equivalent to the increase in clean energy investments.
Adding 7,000 jobs to the Hawaii labor market in 2008 would have brought the state’s unemployment rate down to 2.9% from 3.9%
Clean-energy investments create 16.7 jobs for every $1M in spending -- fossil fuels generate 5.3 jobs per $1M in spending
Relative to spending on fossil fuels, clean-energy investments create 2.6 times more jobs for people with college degrees, 3 times more jobs for people with some college, and 3.6 times more jobs for people with high school degrees or less.
Clean-energy investments will create many jobs in the same areas that people work in today.
Constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists, and truck drivers.
Increasing buildings’ energy efficiency through retrofitting requires roofers, insulators, and building inspectors.
Expanding mass transit systems employs civil engineers, electricians, and dispatchers.}
