WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt joined with his colleagues in the House of Representatives to urge that any economic stimulus bill considered this fall include funding that will help to create green jobs.

“An immediate way to stimulate the economy is for Congress to provide tax incentives and job training funds to spur investments in the emerging clean energy industry,” said Delahunt. “Here in Massachusetts, solar, wind and marine renewables are the industries of the future, and will create thousands of new jobs in our region. Our community colleges are well positioned to provide the important job training and apprenticeship programs that are needed for these new ‘green collar’ jobs.”

The letter signed by Delahunt and 31 of his colleagues urges the House Leadership to include funding for training for America’s emerging “green” workforce in a second economic stimulus package that will be taken up in September.  The new jobs training program was authorized under Title X of P.L. 110-140, the Green Jobs Act, a measure to boost employment in the renewable energy industry. The Green Jobs Act was enacted into law last December and stipulated that a program be put in place to fund worker training for clean energy jobs within 6 months of its passage. To date, there has been no funding allocated.

This program will allow community colleges to apply for and receive grants to train students for jobs related to energy efficiency and renewable energy.  

According to a report commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society titled, “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century”:

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries generated 8.5 million jobs and nearly $1 trillion in revenue in the United States in 2006.   
• By 2030, with appropriate policies, these sectors could generate up to 40 million jobs and $4.5 trillion in revenue in the United States.
• The 40 million jobs that could be created in renewable energy and energy efficiency are not just engineering-related but also include millions of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, accounting, and management.

Please click here for a detailed breakdown of jobs in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industry in 2006.

The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

We applaud the leadership you have taken to address the economic downturn faced by our nation. As you know, however, additional work must be done to counteract current economic conditions which are expected to continue to plague our communities well into next year. As we work to craft such solutions, including a second economic stimulus plan, we urge you to fund Title X of P.L. 110-140, the Green Jobs Act, a measure to help our nation’s workers gain secure jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields.

The American Solar Energy Society estimates that in 2006, the renewable energy and energy sector generated 8.5 million jobs and nearly one trillion dollars in revenue in the United States. However, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that a major non-technical barrier to the advancement of these industries is the lack of a skilled workforce. Congress recognized the industry need and the potential for job growth when it passed the Green Jobs Act as part of P.L. 110-140.   In addition to helping advance the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, the Green Jobs Act created new job training programs would put workers on a path to financial self-sufficiency and economic security.

We strongly believe that supporting the training of America’s workforce in these fields is a win-win. Our economy will benefit by the investment in high-growth and demand fields. Our manufacturing sector will benefit, as these jobs are jobs which will remain in the United States. Our families from all socio-economic backgrounds will benefit by having skills needed for a secure economic future.

We are committed to continuing to work with you to secure America’s energy future and address the strains being felt by families across our nation. We believe investing in training for America’s workforce in green jobs will help meet these goals. We urge inclusion of funding for the Green Jobs Act in measures to address America’s economic challenges and look forward to continuing to work with you to secure America’s energy and economy.

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