By Dr. Arthur M. Holst, Philadelphia Water Department

The movement to go green has exploded enormously throughout the United States. Many states, including Pennsylvania, have made great advances in advancing ways to protect the environment. Protecting the environment requires new technology and new infrastructure. This requirement is resulting in huge growth within the green industry, which is expected to expand dramatically and change the way the business world works.

In order to produce and create the required technology and infrastructure, the green industry is going to need millions of green collar employees. Workers are needed for many green initiatives, including installing solar panels, producing hybrid cars, constructing wind turbines, and producing biofuels.

Green collar jobs are generally described as blue collar jobs in the green industry.

Both the state government of Pennsylvania and the city government of Philadelphia have been deeply involved in the development of green collar jobs. The United States has lost approximately 400,000 manufacturing jobs in recent history, many due to overseas outsourcing. Fortunately, the majority of green collar jobs are manufacturing jobs, and they will be able to eliminate a significant percentage of current unemployment in the manufacturing sector. Green collar jobs cannot be easily outsourced.

The infrastructure is large and must be built and installed on site. Green collar jobs require similar skills and education levels with those used for the lost manufacturing jobs. Not only are green collar jobs seen as replacement jobs and jobs crucial to fighting climate change, they are being seen as a way out of poverty for many citizens. Although some green collar jobs require more education and expertise, the majority can be filled by those with little skill.

In order to grow the pool of green collar jobs, Pennsylvania is going to need funding, job training, available employers, and community interest. The Pennsylvania state government has already passed numerous bills that will help achieve green collar jobs. Special Session Senate Bill 22 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks), which would make changes to Pennsylvania’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund, was passed by the Senate. Among other benefits, this bill will result in reduced air pollution and reduced dependency on foreign oil. The bill also includes a biodiesel production incentive program. Special Session Senate Bill 22 offers up to seventy-five cents per gallon incentive for the production of biodiesel. Special Session Senate Bill 36 (MJ.White-R-Venango), or the Biodiesel Study and Production Incentive Act, was also passed. This bill involves mandates for the use of biodiesel based on production capacity. Now in the House, both Special Session Senate Bill 22 and Special Session Senate Bill 36 have been referred to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.

Pennsylvania currently has two important bills waiting for a hearing in the State Senate: House Bill 2200 (George-D-Clearfield) and Special Session House Bill 1 (DePasquale-D-York). The House of Representatives has passed the bills. Both bills have many different pieces, some of the more important ones including conservation programs, reductions in peak demands of electricity, smart meters for all customers, electricity pricing plans, funding for solar power, green buildings, and wind energy, and consumer rebates to those who replace old appliances with energy efficient ones. House Bill 2200 has been referred to the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, while Special Session House Bill 1 has been referred to the Energy Policies Committee.

The Senate has passed Special Session Senate Bill 1 (MJ.White-R-Venango), which is a compromise bill to Special Session House Bill 1. It authorizes $650 million over the course of ten years for investments in alternative energy and bio-fuels. The bill establishes funding projects for residents and organizations to install alternative energy systems. These projects include funding for direct financial assistance and for tax credits. Special Session Senate Bill 1 also includes grants to help poor families afford heat and electricity, and it gives $15 million to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority for investment and growth. These are only a few provisions of the bill. The plan does not include a few provisions originally proposed by Gov. Rendell. These include a $70 million annual tax on electric users and the ability to borrow $850 million for investments. The $650 million authorized in Special Session Senate Bill 1 allows only $250 million to be borrowed from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Governor Rendell has criticized the bill passed by the Senate, arguing it is progress, but not enough.

Other important bills waiting for a hearing in the State Senate include House Bill 1200 (DePasquale-D-York) and House Bill 1202 (Gerber-D-Montgomery). House Bill 1200 would provide $850 million for alternative fuels investment, but the bill lacks a funding source. The bill was referred to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. House Bill 1202 would require that transportation fields have renewable content. This bill was also referred to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

In Philadelphia, the Nutter administration has pledged itself to make Philadelphia a great, green city. Recently, numerous organizations such as the American City Foundation and PennFuture have been working closely with the administration to create a greener Philadelphia.

These two organizations, along with numerous others, have created a task force and testified in front of City Council on a resolution calling on the Committee on the Environment and the Committee of Commerce and Economic Development to adopt a Green Job Corps that would help Philadelphia become a city that supports green businesses and jobs.

City Council has also been looking into the possibility of green zoning, which would require that a business or organization meet certain environmental standards before permits or licenses are granted.

Philadelphia has been working hard to show the rest of the world that the city is working to attract green businesses and jobs. The newly constructed Comcast Tower has been honored as a green building, particularly for the waterless urinals that will save thousands of gallons of water each year.

The Philadelphia Water Department has been spreading knowledge about green roofs, and solar panels have been placed on numerous buildings throughout center city. Philadelphia has been granted funding by the Department of Energy to expand its solar energy program. Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have been able to attract companies such as Gamesa, a Spanish wind turbine company. Employing 1,300 workers, Gamesa has two factories in Pennsylvania, and the headquarters are located in Philadelphia.

If business leaders, the labor community, and advocates work together, there is great profit to be made from the growing green industry. The Sustainable Business Network claims that twenty sectors of the economy can supply green collar jobs. If Pennsylvania continues to make advances and attract green businesses and their employees, the future will be profitable and green.

Dr. Arthur Holst is Government Affairs Manager for the Philadelphia Water Department. He can be reached at 215-685-6143 or by sending email to: Arthur.Holst@phila.gov .

6/6/2008