Latest Postings

Post your letter to Santa on YourHub.com ( YourHub.com )
School Orientation Scheduled For New Students ( Jeremy Baker )
Adult & Community Education ( Brandy Douglas )
Steve and Susan Raper, Collision on Wheels Owners ( Steve Raper )
The Treasure Lacrosse League Donates Toys ( Elizabeth Bahl )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Vero Beach \\ Stories \\ Business \\ General Business

GREEN RECOVERY INDUSTRY EXPECTED TO SAVE ECONOMY

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Robin Koestoyo on 9/30/2008

In an effort to identify a long-term solution to the nation's downturn, think-tank organization Political Economy Research Institute carried out research to identify new jobs that will restore the economy. The innovative research is now complete and published, in a scholarly document, "Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy."

Their solution to our ailing economy is-new green jobs, more than two million nationally, with more than 100,000 in Florida. Much of the jobs will be in construction and manufacturing, others would be within public and private sectors, at management, mid-management and staff levels. The organization's authors believe the new jobs may be created with rapid investment in the already booming green economy.

The idea of a "green recovery" encompasses retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency; mass transit and freight rail expansion; "smart-grid" electrical transmission systems; and investment in non-oil fuel systems such as wind, solar, and next-generation cellulosic biofuels.

To fund the green-jobs transformation, the institute has proposed a $100 billion investment with combined tax credits and loans for private businesses with direct public investment spending. Their report ends with a summary: "we can be certain that the green recovery program will serve as a strong counterforce against pressures that are currently pushing unemployment up as well as more broadly increasing economic disparities." Within the report, an example is used for a wind farm construction model. This example shows the project would employ those who already have skills in engineering, sheet metal, machinery, truck driving, roofing, insulation, electricity and dispatching, in addition to many other positions.

How would Treasure Coast residents prepare for careers in the newly proposed Green Recovery? The University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center just west of Fort Pierce offers both a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management, a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Resource Economics, as well as a Master of Science degree in Environmental Sciences. One or both of the degree programs will well-prepare graduates for a career in the green industry, with knowledge needed to lead the green industry for decades.

For information about environmental degree programs at the University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center contact Coordinator of Student Support Services Jackie White at: (772) 468-3922, Ext. 148, or by e-mail at: jkwhite@ufl.edu.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story