Green collar jobs are the new black, and a red hot job generator.
The most recent assessment from the Boulder-based American Solar Energy Society (ASES), credits the renewable energy and energy-efficiency (RE&EE) industries with more than 9 million jobs and $1.05 billion in United States revenue in 2007, according to the most recent data. The renewable energy industry is growing three times faster than the U.S. economy, according to the report, “Green Collar Jobs in the U.S. and Colorado — Economic Drivers for the 21st Century,” from ASES and the economic research firm Management Information Services Inc. (MISI).
Their forecast is rosy: Green jobs could grow to 16 million and $1.97 billion in revenue in the U.S. by 2030. However, with federal and state buy-in, the forecast is an entire rose garden —37 million jobs and $4.29 billion in annual revenue. These industries also will bringing with them new policies, initiatives and innovations.
As for Colorado, the report shows, despite fierce competition from other states, our RE/EE industries have roughly 6 percent of the U.S. wind market, 6 percent of the photovoltaic’s market and 5 percent of the biofuels market, even though Colorado’s gross state product accounts for only 1.7 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Green jobs are and will be everywhere, the report stated, from urban centers to small towns and rural areas, and that workers will continue to be employed at all skill levels.
*Pick out some opportunities*
On its Web site, the nonprofit ASES offers job-hunters some advice for finding these opportunities:
• *Figure out what you’d like to be doing*, whether it’s working on a roof or setting policy.
• *Find individuals who are doing what you want to do*; ask them what you can do to secure a job like theirs.
• *Take the advice they offer*.
• *Study the industry and list target organizations*.
For Denver-metro area green job-hunters, for example, recent news has featured these names: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden has formed a Collaboratory or research consortium with the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University; Tendril Networks Inc. has secured venture capital; Aurora Campus for Renewable Energy has found tenants like Solar Acceleration Technology; and North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp. plans to build a 34-turbine wind power facility near Burlington — among dozens more announced plans.
• *Keep informed*. There are tours and education offerings through the NREL, colleges, universities and local industry nonprofits. Many organizations and even for-profits offer free newsletters or electronic updates about industry news, including local newspapers. Colorado community colleges offer courses in wind energy and solar technologies, among others. Warren Tech is training students for jobs in energy efficiency, among other education sources.
• *Skills may transfer* directly into a green job. According to the ASES-MISI report, hot green openings are found in other industries: electrician, mechanical engineer, welder, metal worker, construction manager, accountant, analyst, environmental scientist and chemist.
To move into the green more quickly, look for positions requiring the skills you use. If seeking new territory altogether, become educated, take some classes and learn how to become certified in a specific area.
“The gross EE revenues in 2007 represent substantially more than the combined sales of the three largest U.S. corporations.
Bet on Colorado employers to go after a healthy share of billions of dollars of projected revenue and millions of jobs forecast nationally.
For additional information, visit www.ases.org; www. misi-net.com and the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office at www. colorado.gov/energy. Also visit area firms’ Web pages for their energy focus and job openings. Many enable candidates to apply online.
_Marywyn Germaine is a writer/graphic designer in The Denver Post’s Creative Services Department._