Renewable Resources Power Green Collar Job Growth
Many national politicians have promised to spend money to create what is called green-collar jobs: $150 billion over the next 10 tears to create five million of them. What they have failed to explain, is what green-collar jobs actually are. Environmentalists have offered that green-collar jobs are those that benefit the environment while cutting pollution and reducing waste.
A more energy-efficient and cleaner environment is the goal for most, but some worry that the created jobs offered will not pay a living wage and still others counter that the move to green jobs may actually promote job losses. They contend climate-change policies increase the cost to some industries resulting in business closings and job losses. Still others are concerned that many of the new green technology companies do not have the experience and industry background to support them and will be short-lived.
Despite the naysayers of the future of work in the green industry, the facts remain that earth-friendly products are here to stay in order to provide a cleaner, healthier environment. Simply speaking, the major industries in the green revolution will spark the growth in many other areas. For example, the growing use of solar energy will create the need for qualified people to install these systems in homes and businesses. There will also be a need for companies to retrofit existing buildings to greener technologies.
Many of the growing industries may be obvious: solar energy, wind energy and biomass. What may not be obvious are the industries that stem from their growing use. Recycling has been pushed for many years as a means of saving the planet, and more products made of recyclable materials is growing the need in that industry. Electronic devices, rife with materials such as gold, silver and lead, are just now gaining ground in the recycling industry. As the price of raw materials continues to escalate, it is becoming more efficient and cost-effective to recycle those products.
Technology is advancing in many areas of the green market and as more competition hits the market, prices of the products they introduce results in lower costs to consumers. Just a few short years ago there were only a handful of companies involved in producing wind turbines. Today, competition has grown in this field, resulting in turbines and wind mills produced cheaper making them more affordable and making their use more cost effective. This has resulted in companies popping up to install them as well as other industries to design more efficient components.
As more businesses enter the green workplace, there will be a need for workers in those industries. The biomass industry has grown considerably since the use of environmentally friendly fuel is growing. More ground is being dedicated to producing corn for ethanol and more recyclers are needed for used cooking oil, opening new industry doors. Getting the corn from the farm to the factory or getting the cooking oil to the refinery will require more truck drivers, for example.
There will also be a need to trained technicians to install and repair components on virtually every step of the green process, turning many blue collars green. It will require training and in order for those needs to be met, another job opportunity for teachers in the green industry will grow.
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