Lawmakers push for 'green-collar' jobs as climate change looms

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15381611.html

Lawmakers push for 'green-collar' jobs as climate change looms

Story Published: Feb 6, 2008 at 6:21 PM PST
By Associated Press

CENTRALIA, Wash. (AP) - In a town still reeling from the closure of a massive coal mine, dozens of students train each year to work in the energy industry, immersing themselves in the intricacies of power generation and plant design.

Many move on to apprenticeships at places like the Bonneville Power Administration or the Grand Coulee Dam, or jobs at power companies like Seattle Steam.

The executive director of the Center for Excellence for Energy Technology at Centralia College hopes her graduates will be part of an emerging "green collar" work force envisioned by state lawmakers, who want to spark the creation of 25,000 such jobs in Washington state by 2020.

"We're in the right place at the right time," said Barbara Hins-Turner, who said the center is just starting to emphasize renewable energy in its classes, including a recent field trip to a wind turbine training center in Portland.

...

[DCKit]

1. Washington state is doing a lot of good things to bring alternative energy technology

to the state. The one I had to laugh over (in comraderie) is their creation of an AE vacuum: They've provided a tax break for all in-state manufactured alternative energy hardware purchases.