Green jobs have become a sort of mantra of late among the political left, with supporters looking to clean-energy sectors to produce companies hungry for new hires and help ease the pain of the economic downturn. Today research firm Clean Edge, known among other things for its annual Clean Energy Trends reports, weighed into the discussion with the release of its first report on employment titled “Clean-Tech Jobs Trends 2009.”
While some of the findings shouldn’t astonish — solar, smart grid and biofuels are three of the fastest expanding cleantech sectors — others like the 15 hottest U.S. metropolitan areas for clean-energy jobs and a listing of median salaries for a range of cleantech work provide interesting insight.
Given Clean Edge’s consistent bullishness on cleantech, it’s no surprise that the report is broadly optimistic about the sector’s capacity to create jobs in coming years. According to the authors, the current economic crisis could accelerate the transition to a clean-energy economy and major global trends — increasing action on carbon emissions reduction, lessening dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices and supplies, growing government leadership on clean energy — point to “huge potential growth” in cleantech employment. The number of jobs created could be in the “millions” in a wide range of cleantech sectors, but the report does not forecast more specific growth numbers or give a timescale for when those “millions” of jobs might be created. (The Clean Edge report does cite a recent Pew Charitable Trusts report that found cleantech jobs grew 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007, compared with 3.7 percent growth for all U.S. jobs.)
The top five sectors for U.S. cleantech job activity — based on a combination of job placements, postings, and public and private investments — are solar; biofuels and biomaterials; conservation and efficiency; smart grid; and wind power, according to Clean Edge. But the report lists other key sectors, grouped under four categories, in which cleantech jobs are now emerging (see the chart below, courtesy Clean Edge).
Green jobs have become a sort of mantra of late among the political left, with supporters looking to clean-energy sectors to produce companies hungry for new hires and help ease the pain of the economic downturn. Today research firm Clean Edge, known among other things for its annual Clean Energy Trends reports, weighed into the discussion with the release of its first report on employment titled “Clean-Tech Jobs Trends 2009.”
While some of the findings shouldn’t astonish — solar, smart grid and biofuels are three of the fastest expanding cleantech sectors — others like the 15 hottest U.S. metropolitan areas for clean-energy jobs and a listing of median salaries for a range of cleantech work provide interesting insight.
Given Clean Edge’s consistent bullishness on cleantech, it’s no surprise that the report is broadly optimistic about the sector’s capacity to create jobs in coming years. According to the authors, the current economic crisis could accelerate the transition to a clean-energy economy and major global trends — increasing action on carbon emissions reduction, lessening dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices and supplies, growing government leadership on clean energy — point to “huge potential growth” in cleantech employment. The number of jobs created could be in the “millions” in a wide range of cleantech sectors, but the report does not forecast more specific growth numbers or give a timescale for when those “millions” of jobs might be created. (The Clean Edge report does cite a recent Pew Charitable Trusts report that found cleantech jobs grew 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007, compared with 3.7 percent growth for all U.S. jobs.)
The top five sectors for U.S. cleantech job activity — based on a combination of job placements, postings, and public and private investments — are solar; biofuels and biomaterials; conservation and efficiency; smart grid; and wind power, according to Clean Edge. But the report lists other key sectors, grouped under four categories, in which cleantech jobs are now emerging (see the chart below, courtesy Clean Edge).
OCTOBER 14, 2009, 9:00 AM ET
Delving Into Green Business
Kevin Chenoweth was previously a senior consultant with Deloitte Consulting. His position was eliminated in April 2009 after more than a year with the firm. Prior to that, Mr. Chenoweth, 39, was a consultant with Lucidity Consulting group. He earned an M.B.A. from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1993. He lives in Denver.
This past week, a local solar developer contacted me about his plans to build a solar power development model within a partnership structure. He was open about his desire to bring someone along with a great interest in solar development, and to have a second set of eyes on his partnership model. I would analyze his model and possibly give him leads on companies where it could be useful. During this week, I devoted significant time sorting through the assumptions to arrive at an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) that would attract financing from major banks. Initially, I had considered pursuing the credentials for an installer, but my contact convinced me that financing required understanding of the installment and sales angles.
The model is only the first step in identifying my knowledge gaps and where I need to go to learn about financial impacts like federal and state incentives, tax deductions, and credits. Alternative energy is unlike many of the traditional industries. Regulation and a maze of state tax laws govern this industry and each model needs to be tailored to the various regulations. The green movement is still young and the right financial model can take advantage of the relationships among integrators, designers and installers.
I am also speaking to one of my colleagues inside a major bank to discover a good contact for their investments department. Large banks have departments devoted to alternative energy investments and a contact could further my understanding of the financing techniques. I understand now that the goal is to have a broad search in the types of industries where the development niche can be found. This includes banks, venture capital funds, and non-profits where networks are being created and solar development is taking place.
This industry is significantly feeling the downturn. One of my key contacts recently lost her position at her company. Worldwide, there is vigorous competition to secure deals with integrators and commercial entities. However, a strong IRR model like the one I am evaluating could lead to a favorable cost benefit case to accept a solar deal. That is why I am focusing on the creation of this model. Considering that I felt very distant from a career just a week ago, I believe that I am making progress.
Readers, how are you pursuing green jobs? Share your stories in the comments section.
PlumChoice Opens First Regional Support & Training Center in Maine
Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:00am EDT Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+]
New Initiative Will Support Company`s Rapid Growth & Extend `Green` Jobs
Creation
BILLLERICA, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
PlumChoice today announced the opening of its first regional Center of
Excellence to provide support and training for its rapidly growing remote
technical support services business. The new two-story facility in Scarborough,
Maine - the first PlumChoice location outside its Billerica, Massachusetts,
headquarters - is expected to employ 125 people by the end of 2009. This center
will support several hundred new work-at-home service technicians who will
provide 24x7 online repair and assistance for digital devices ranging from
computers to smartphones.
The center is the first of a planned series of regional facilities that
PlumChoice is establishing to meet growth demands, expand its recruitment base
to new geographical areas, and provide training and support in close proximity
to newly hired home-based service technicians.
Those new hires will also extend the company`s focus on creating `green`
domestic jobs that reduce commuting-related pollution, provide a flexible work
option, and return previously off shored jobs to the U.S. The majority of
PlumChoice`s workforce consists of these full-time work-at-home service
technicians, who are certified in supporting PCs, Macs, smartphone devices,
netbooks, MP3 players, network devices, printers and digital cameras as well as
the associated integration challenges faced by end users.
The launch of PlumChoice`s Center of Excellence initiative follows last month`s
announcements of a new $14.7 million funding round and an expansion of the
management team. All three developments have been fueled by mounting adoption of
PlumChoice`s premium U.S.-based 24x7 technical support services by corporate
partners, including leading telco/cable/ISPs, retailer/e-tailers and OEMs who
outsource their remote support needs to PlumChoice under their own brands.
"We have been developing a strategic road map to manage our growth for many
months. One of the cornerstones of the plan is to establish multiple Centers of
Excellence to ensure that we can efficiently equip our service technicians with
the training, mentoring and supervision they need to provide quality service to
our corporate partners," said PlumChoice CEO Ted Werth. "Our new Maine site
gives us a base of operations in the far Northeast and is the first step in
expanding to other areas of the United States to generate new jobs that are also
environmentally friendly."
About PlumChoice
Since 2000, PlumChoice has become the nationwide leader in providing trusted
remote technical services for the home, home office and small business primarily
through business partners. PlumChoice leads the industry in technical innovation
and integrated services, giving customers affordable solutions to their
technology problems anytime, anywhere. Through its exclusive SAFElink Enterprise
platform, PlumChoice offers comprehensive, flexible service options (one-time,
per-minute and subscription plans) on personal computers & laptops, networking,
software applications, printers, peripherals, MP3 players, digital cameras,
smartphones and other mobile devices, and more. PlumChoice is trusted by more
Fortune 500 companies than any other provider. Its team of U.S.-based, 100%
industry-certified agents is available 24/7/365. PlumChoice`s Partner
Go-To-Market program helps business partners come to market rapidly and grow
revenue quickly. The company offers specific integrated programs for Telcos,
ISPs, manufacturers, retailers and e-tailers. PlumChoice services are also
available online and in-store through many telecommunications service providers,
retailers and software manufacturers, as well as many other partners. For more
information, visit www.plumchoice.com/partner, call 1-888-PLUM-HELP
(1-888-758-6435) or send email to sales@plumchoice.com.
SS | PR
Press Contact:
Belinda Banks, 866-497-5071
pr@plumchoice.com
German firm says Pittsburgh plant could create 300 'green' jobs
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
By Elwin Green, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
A worker walks between two ovens, lined with copper tubing, where "parabolic" glass will be made at Flabeg Solar US in the Clinton Commerce Park in Findlay The plant is expected to employ as many as 200 people.
A manufacturing facility slated to open at month's end will create 200 "green jobs" in the region, and could employ up to 300 people when it is running full-bore.
Flabeg Solar US Corp., a new subsidiary of German glass finishing firm Flabeg GmBH, is building the 230,000-square-foot plant in Clinton Commerce Park in Findlay to make solar mirrors for power stations that use sunlight to generate electricity.
Flabeg Solar's mirrors will be used in two types of solar power plants. The first type uses an array of flat mirrors to reflect sunlight toward a receiver placed on a tower. The second uses a chain of parabolic mirrors whose curved surfaces focus sunlight on a tube, thus heating oil that flows through it.
Construction on the cavernous facility began in March, but Flabeg Solar began local operations in January.
"We started with two people in one room," in a temporary office in Green Tree's Foster Plaza, said President Jochen Meyer. Since then the company has operated in "startup mode."
"You do 14-hour days, you improvise, you keep things going, you find solutions."
Mr. Meyer said the company already has contracts to deliver half a million mirrors for power stations in United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi and in Spain, but is "a little behind what we expected" in winning a contract in the United States.
"A lot of people are standing in the starting blocks," he said. They're waiting to see what incentives are included in the next energy bill to be signed into law.
That wait-and-see stance belies the history of solar: Although Spain and Germany have led the growth of solar energy in recent years, a solar facility built in California's Mojave Desert in the late 1980s remains the world's largest. Solar Energy Generating Systems, a complex of nine power plants, uses nearly a million mirrors spread over 1,600 acres to create a total installed capacity of 354 megawatts.
Flabeg provided the Solar Energy Generating Systems mirrors 25 years ago. The company is building a U.S. plant because it wants to be positioned when the solar energy market takes off again. "We expect the U.S. market to grow substantially in the next five years," he said.
Plants in the United States also cost less than plants in Europe, he said, so building one here will "improve our overall global cost position."
So far, the staff has grown from two to about 25, largely engineers. Over the next 18 months, the company will hire both skilled and unskilled manufacturing workers to fill out its work force. Mr. Meyer declined to give a salary range for the new hires, but said, "We have put together a very competitive package which includes a number of benefits."
He also said that the compensation system "rewards personal growth as well as personal performance," with opportunities for advancement.
When the plant is finished, most workers there will not actually handle the mirror glass -- that will fall largely to a platoon of 22 robots. Three 400-foot assembly lines will push giant plates of glass through a process in which they are heated up to 1,500 degrees Farenheit and layered with silver copper and three coats of paint before being shipped out.
The Clinton facility will be able to produce up to 4,000 mirrors a day, enough to fill a dozen 20-ton trucks.
With that much glass being toted around, what happens when it breaks? Untreated glass is simply recycled, but fragments of treated glass call for disposal by a company that specializes in hazardous waste.
"It will not end up on your normal landfill," Mr. Meyer said.
Mr. Meyer said that while other states offered more aggressive packages than the $9 million that Flabeg received from Pennsylvania to get the facility, time considerations tilted the decision toward the Pittsburgh region.
"We were really under the gun to get this facility up and running as fast as possible," he said. "Clinton Commerce Park was pretty much pre-developed and we had all the right things in place so that we could get off the ground pretty fast."
It didn't hurt that parent company Flabeg was familiar with the area, having long had a subsidiary in Brackenridge that makes automotive mirrors. In a development reflecting larger changes in the U.S. economy, the Flabeg Automotive US Corp. laid off 65 workers in March, even as Flabeg Solar was rushing to complete its new plant.
Time was a factor in another sense: Being in the eastern time zone means that Pittsburgh is only six hours behind Germany, making it easier to share a workday with German offices. Placing a factory on the West Coast would have created a situation where "one team is leaving the office as the other team is getting into the office."
The building's design incorporates elements meant to foster what Mr. Meyer called "a very integrative culture." For instance, offices are designed for at least two people because "our culture is to work in teams." In similar fashion, the canteen and gym will have no separate spaces for executives, to de-emphasize hierarchy.
"We really want to make this a model factory," he said, "with everybody working hard, thinking and being proud of our success."
Elwin Green may be contacted at egreen@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1969.
According to reports, Richardson said a total of 8,641 residents in his state have received full- or part-time jobs as a result of the nearly $77 million in stimulus funds New Mexico has received. That could potentially go even higher given the state is expected to receive $3.2 billion through the effort over the next two years.
The New Mexico Office of Recovery & Reinvestment has been involved in applying for federal grants under the stimulus effort totaling several hundred million dollars for green grid/smart grid demonstration projects, broadband expansion, health information technology initiatives, road funds, green jobs funds and education reform funding.
ngressman Sestak Highlights Local Green Economy Success Story and Local Green Jobs Training
Congressman Sestak Highlights Local Green Economy Success Story and Local Green Jobs Training
States we are moving in the right direction, but much more needs to be done
Philadelphia, PA – Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) held a press conference today to highlight that further steps need to be taken to green our economy and increase our global competiveness. The event spotlighted the efforts of a local entrepreneur, who recently repurchased his business from a Spanish-owned company, and the Community College of Philadelphia�s Green Jobs Training Program.
Brent Alderfer is the founder of the first wind power company east of the Mississippi, Community Energy Inc. He and his partners sold Community Energy to a Spanish company in 2006 when uncertainly in the domestic renewable market led to an inability to get domestic investors for its projects. Then earlier this year, he and his partners decided to again go out on their own as recent federal incentives and prospects for future policy changes led him to believe that an American-owned renewable energy company could survive.
“We are falling behind the rest of the world,” said Congressman Sestak. “We need serious investment, both private and public, to make our economy more efficient and green. To do that we need the right combination of policies to help sustain renewable energy�s momentum and the right incentives so we can create a stable market for capital investment and work to combat climate change with a home-grown American industry.”
Congressman Sestak also noted that a third ingredient is needed to feed the growth of the green economy and that is proper education and training. That is why he has co-sponsored the Community College Energy Training Act of 2009 to export and expand upon the efforts such as the Community College of Philadelphia�s Green Jobs Training Program.
“America has all the right tools to lead the world to a more sustainable and greener economy,” said Congressman Sestak. “What is needed is leadership and commitment. And right here today we see the seeds of what can develop if the right decisions are made. The United States has been stuck for too long and let other nations like Spain and German take the lead. China has recognized what is at stake and has invested billions. With the steps taken this year with the $60 billion in green investments in the Economic Stimulus bill, the $2.2 billion energy efficiency and renewable energy investment in the Energy and Water Appropriation, and the House�s passage of climate change legislation, we have taken steps in the right directions; however, much more needs to be done from greater incentives for renewable development, to increased funding for training programs, such as what is here at the Community College of Pennsylvania, to the Senate passing meaningful climate change legislation this year.”
R. Brent Alderfer, President, Community Energy, Inc.
Brent Alderfer is President and Founder of Community Energy, Inc., which has been a leading renewable energy company since it successfully marketed the first wind generation in the Northeast ten years ago. That early success paved the way in Pennsylvania for a new wind energy industry. From 2006 to 2009 Community Energy joined Iberdrola Renewables, the largest renewable energy company in the world, building over thousand megawatts of new wind generation. Independently, Community Energy continues to market and develop solar and wind projects in the mid-Atlantic and mid-West.
Prior to forming Community Energy Inc., Brent served as a Colorado Public Utility Commissioner and became a leading national spokesperson for new and renewable energy technologies. As a Commissioner, Brent led the Energy Resources and the Environment Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, promoting policy to open electric markets to new, renewable and distributed generation. He coauthored the report, Making Connections, published by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1999 on utility interconnection of renewable and distributed generation. An electrical engineer and a lawyer, Brent practiced law for fifteen years, representing development-stage companies through start up and public offering. Brent holds an electrical engineering degree from Northeastern University, 1974, and a law degree from Georgetown University, 1977.
Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City. Since 1965, over 500,000 students have passed through our doors seeking associate's degrees, certificates, improved workplace skills and lifelong learning. Many of our degree students transfer to four-year institutions while others seek employment in the Philadelphia region. Over 90 percent of our graduates remain in the area and seek employment, strengthening our local economy and workforce. Local businesses look to us to provide workplace training to keep their workers skilled and their companies competitive.
Community College of Philadelphia is already training workers for “green jobs.” The Community College Energy Training Act would allow the College, and the more than 1,100 community colleges throughout the nation, to continue to build their capacity to offer “green jobs” educational courses and programs. The College and its Corporate Solutions unit is focusing not just on technology, but on green technology and its applications.
Corporate Solutions is offering several green jobs training courses, such as Green Home Basics -- a series of workshops designed for architects, builders, property managers and realtors that focuses on analyzing building projects with an emphasis on sustainable design principles. The College also provides training that helps people become installers, crew chiefs and energy analysts in the rapidly growing field of weatherizing homes and businesses; and the College is working as a partner with the Energy Coordinating Agency, a 25-year-old, non-profit corporation that helps residents conserve energy, to obtain grants that will allow the College to expand its green training and education programs.
In November, the College will begin offering a new program for design and construction professionals seeking the U.S. Green Building Council�s “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) professional certification. The College also is an authorized testing center for numerous green-related national certifications, such as the green advantage, energy manager, carbon reduction manager and sustainable development professional certifications.
The College incorporates sustainable design, construction and operations principles and applications into its associate degree programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Computer-Assisted Design Technology and Facility Management.
Finally, the College practices what it teaches in that it has embarked on $87 million in new construction at its Main Campus and at its Northeast Regional Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Expected to be completed soon, the Main Campus project – which will include, among other things, a green roof -- is expected to qualify for LEED Silver certification, and the Northeast Regional Center – which will include a geothermal well field with more than 200 wells that will support heating and air conditioning -- is expected to qualify for LEED gold certification.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including as Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, he was the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy�s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the “Global War on Terrorism.” He served as President Clinton�s Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
Cree pledges 575 new, 'green' jobs in Durham
Triangle Business Journal - by Frank Vinluan
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Cree Inc. plans to hire more than 500 workers in Durham over the next three years, the maker of light-emitting diodes and LED lighting products announced Thursday afternoon.
The company currently employs about 1,500 in the Triangle. Cree (Nasdaq: CREE) cited the growing market for energy-efficient LED lighting as the reason for the new jobs. Cree plans to add 275 jobs in the remainder of 2009 to expand LED manufacturing at its Durham HQ. The company expects to hire an additional 300 workers by the end of 2012.
“We are seeing tremendous growth for LED lighting,” Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda said in a statement. “Energy-efficient lighting has its roots right here in North Carolina, and Cree is proud to be bringing more green jobs to our state.”
Cree began making LED lights in its Durham facilities in August. Cree has also begun manufacturing and assembling LED lighting products with Flextronics in Mecklenburg County.
Last month, Cree raised $390.5 million in a stock offering that the company said would fund $150 million in “anticipated capital expenditures” in fiscal 2010 and “future capital expenditure needs.” The rest would be set aside for corporate expenses, including working capital and “potential strategic investments.”
Clear Skies Solar Announces Memorandum of Understanding with Payom Solar AG
Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:01am EDT Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+]
Companies Anticipate Closer Strategic Cooperation Partnership to Fuel
Exponential Growth for Both Companies
MINEOLA, N.Y. and MERKENDORF, Germany, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Skies
Solar, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSKH), a leading provider of turnkey solar
electricity installations and renewable energy solutions, today announced a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Payom Solar AG, supplier of in-roof and
on-roof solar-energy systems.
"We are starting to see the markets move and funds open up for client
companies to move forward with their renewable energy plans," says Ezra Green,
CEO of Clear Skies Solar. "As such, now is the time for companies like Clear
Skies Solar and Payom Solar AG to collaborate and leverage our combined
strengths as we move forward into the largest viable market in the world. CSS
is one of the most efficient companies in the US solar sector due to the
strong and unique management team assembled. Now that the credit markets have
regained a strong foothold and are poised for growth, we expect our expansion
to be far in excess of our original model. Working with Payom will also expand
our already substantial international reach."
The purpose of the MOU is to explore possibilities of a strategic cooperation
under which Clear Skies Solar and Payom intend to use the sourcing
capabilities of both companies for its PV products as well as uniting the
technical knowledge of CSS and Payom for construction and design of PV
products.
"At Payom, we hope to utilize Clear Skies Solar's market and financing
knowledge for PV projects in North America to aid in our growth in this
region," said Jorg Truelsen, CEO of Payom Solar AG. "With Clear Skies Solar's
comprehensive knowledge of the North American markets and our expertise in the
development of PV projects, it is a natural fit for our companies to look at
developing a long-term partnership."
About Payom Solar AG:
Payom Solar AG is a German-Based manufacturer independent system provider of
solar plants. The company plans, constructs and sells photovoltaic systems
both in in-roof-segments and on-roof segments from house installation to
industrial large plants and delivers them turnkey to institutional as well as
private investors and operators.
About Clear Skies Solar:
Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (CSS) through its wholly owned subsidiary provides
full-service renewable energy solutions to commercial, industrial, and
agricultural clients across the country. CSS was incorporated in 2003 and
launched formal operations in 2005. During that time period, CSS developed its
proprietary systems, obtained licenses and certifications, and acquired
technologies that could maximize the impact of its construction expertise on
the renewable energy sector. CSS has become one of the premier solar electric
installation companies in the country. For more information about CSS, visit www.ClearSkiesSolar.com.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or
current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown
factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be
materially different from any historical results or from any future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to
statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are
urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief,"
"expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates,"
"plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking
statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and
uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings
with Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Clear Skies Solar
Tom Oliveri, Clear Skies Solar, +1-516-282-7652, tom@clearskiessolar.com