Talking Green

Solar Energy in the City

This is pretty cool..

Info on Green Jobs Training Grants

This DOL info has information on how to apply for grants fro green jobs training, for those interested in looking for applying for the grants.

Among other funding directed toward the Department of Labor (DOL), the Recovery Act provides $750 million for a program of competitive grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industries. Of the $750 million allotted for competitive grants, the Recovery Act designates $500 million for projects that prepare workers for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors described in Section 171(e)(1)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), as amended to incorporate the Green Jobs Act of 2007.

Plenty of money for training. So go get 'em..

UNEP Definition of Green Jobs..

Yesterday, I posted my question about "what is a green job?", since there's no clear cut definition out there on the subject. So, treat this as my obsession to find a simple yet meaningful definition of green jobs, in addition to the one I heard at a conference.

Green jobs by definition, via UNEP's (United Nations Environment Program): 

We define green jobs as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.

[via report on Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world]

What is a Green Job?

Everyone is so excited with the prospect of green jobs. Who doesn't? With unemployment level at record high. Obama Administration wanted to create 5 million jobs in the next 10 years by investing $150B in renewable energy. To start with the Stimulus package includes the $500M funding appropriated for green jobs training. And with the $76B in direct and indirect incentives, the upside potential for green jobs is definitely here.

However, before we cheer on its upside potential, can we at least agree on one thing: what is a green job, anyway? Because there's just too many definition floating out there. There's no clear cut definition of what is green, green job.

Thanks to IREC to have a write-up on this topic recently. They've done a good job compiling 'green jobs' definition from various sources, including from Van Jones, Phil Angelides with Apollo Alliance, Joel Makower with GreenBiz, Rona Fried with SustainableBusiness.com, and more. It's true the more you look at the definition, the more likely you get confused, because there's simply no clear cut definition available, via IREC.

We have looked at some definitions that are being used and have also reviewed some recent reports and mission statements.  The more we dig, the more questions are raised.  We think it is important to have a working definition but one that isn’t limiting nor one that is too vague that it could be used to misrepresent the intent of green jobs.

When I Googled definition of 'what is a green job,' there was 291M sites with matched search word. Oh my! Here are some examples:

• Van Jones: "My definition of a green-collar job is this:  it is a family-supporting, career-track job that directly contributes to preserving or enhancing environmental quality." [IREC]
  
• Phil Angelides: "It has to pay decent wages and benefits that can support a family. It has to be part of a real career path, with upward mobility. And it needs to reduce waste and pollution and benefit the environment." [Time]
• Joseph Romm: "Green jobs are living-wage, career-track jobs that contribute to preserving or enhancing environmental quality." [Grist]
• Repower America: "Green jobs provide healthy environments for workers while helping build a clean economy. These are good jobs involving work that is often familiar. Plumbers, welders, carpenters and others continue to use their skills, but in fields like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture or green building. They install solar energy panels on rooftops, build wind turbines, retrofit homes for energy efficiency, and much more." [Repower America]
• Robert Pollin (PERI): "I'm greatly in favor of investing in things that will promote a clean environment, fight global warming, and those investments will all create jobs, and I don't really care what color they are." [Alternet]
• And more..

You see how confusing they are. It's a 'mouthful' just trying to define it..

And then, Fast Company have its list of 10 best green jobs for next decade. Their top 10 jobs includes some jobs mentioned by people quoted above plus other industries like farming, forestry, urban planning, etc.

A while back when I attended 'Good Jobs, Green Jobs' conference, in one of the meetings, there was somebody who gives a short and simple definition. (sorry I couldn't recall his name). This is what he said:

"Green job is any job that help reduce carbon footprint"

Keyword: any.

There you go. Simple, no?

Great Energy Efficiency Day on the Hill

This is a 'delayed' blogging post from yesterday event on the Hill. - Dewita

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It's just so timely that GEED this year was held after the passing of the Stimulus package (Recovery Bill). Think this year there are more people in the room. I can feel that the enthusiasm is there! People are energized on this specific issue: energy efficiency. (I got here a bit late so didn't get a chance to hear Sec. Chu speaks).

Sen. Mark Pryor from Arkansas: (Alliance: He is the one who put Title 17 on Energy Savings Act). Sen. Mark Pryor talks about efficiency, the legislation that was just passed. He said that efficiency is a powerful source of energy that should be the approach to policy why EE makes a lot of sense. 1) It helps reduce carbon footprint, 2) Save natural resources and save the future, 3) help trade creation. It creates jobs in rural America. Energy and economy is inter-related. Then he gave a run down for what's in Stimulus package i.e. $300 mil for Energy Star, $270 mil for retrofit low income $500 mil for green job creation, $4.5 bil Federal building energy efficiency, $3.4 bln directly to state energy programs.

He said that he heard it on NPR about Mount Pleasant solar energy co-op that have 90 members agreed to install solar panel on the roof. This couldn't be realized without the Fed and DC tax incentives, which the credit covers about two-third of cost for installation with payback in 4 years. He thinks that Alexandria, Maryland might have the same co-op model.

Another area he touched on was combined heat and power (CHP), which is by itself a 70% efficiency. In his closing remarks he says that "..whatever outreach we do, it should include energy efficiency message."

Panel: Incentives to Drive EE in the Utility Sector- Will One Approach Win the Day?

Arshad Mansoor, EPRI: Talks about how to make grid more efficient. He said that the industry biggest electricity user is the electricity industry itself. It takes electricity to make, transmit, and distribute it up and down the chain. The total power lost is about 3T kwh which is equivalent to 20% or more electricitty use in California. The framework: what are things they can do in transmission? If we look at the residential sector, there are at least 500-600 facilities serving these homes, so we can target these facilities. What can be done on the distribution side? How do we create transmission efficiency? Smart grid is a 2 way communication to bring data towards efficiency. If we take 15% off that's like 40Tkwh or electricity needed to power NY. 

Ralph Cavanagh, NDRC: Tells a story about refrigerator. He says, "if utilities helping customers, they should be profitable." NDRC is one of the collaborators in the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) with Alliance to Save Energy. We have to break true addiction to natural gas and electricity because utilities is fixed cost capital intensive business. Give an example of how Idaho Power help its customers to save electricity and correlation with its financial impact when company recovers cost of investments. Briefly touched on 'decoupling.' Note: more on electric rate decoupling here.

Angela Beehler, Wal-Mart: Talk about what Wal-Mart is doing to promote sustainability within the company. 1) uses 100% renewable energy, 2) sell products that sustain the environment, 3) create zero waste. Currently have 14 sustaibility network in place. 

Frank Murray, NYSERDA: His message is "individuals do can and make a difference." NYSERDA has a budget of $600 mil a year set aside for renewable energy and energy efficiency. He thinks that these two are keys to market transformation. Talk about 'decoupling.' For example, Energy Star program influence customer behavior plus economic opportunities. The program is flexible. states to adopt program within states.

David Springe, NASUCA: The position of his organization on decoupling is on the other side of NRDC. He said that for utility companies, decoupling is a revenue mechanism, period. Revenue decoupling does separate profit from sales.

Q&A. Lots of question surrounding "decoupling." How is Walmart demand energy efficiency from vendors? A: Encourage suppliers need to deliver value. Need to engage these people for sustainability for improvement. We're moving on fast track. Get involved and make a difference. ENE.tv.

Rep. Paul Tonko (a new Congressman from NY): He served in State Assembly for 20 years. Expert on energy in NY. Challenges we must addressed, i.e. economy not only here but all over the world. Besides that, it's a great time to move forward thinking outside the box. Have to be aggressive in promoting efficiency. Talk about change the consumer behavior. Policy changes from state all the way up encourage the changes, should be complemented that allow consumers to make green choices. Cars, computers, boilers, etc. need to be made products that have highest standard of efficiency. Retrofit. Worked with Cornell U demo on retrofitting to help farmers. 70 farms realizing 30-40% save on util. simply by reducing demand. R&D is a downpayment for the future.

Rep. Waxman (D-CA): Talk about what they're doing. Doing with 3 most important issues: 1)energy eff en independent less reliance from oil producers 2) concern about the harm being done to our planet on global warming and climate change 3) economy - in a slump, modernize the economy. Passing 1 bill deal energy concern, cap-and-trade, incentives for private sectors to do more energy efficiency. All of these work in tandem. Least expensive is: energy efficiency. Save the use by just being more efficient. Crisis in California change the habit. (Then slammed Cheney for rewarding his buddies!). Determine to get the bill out of committee by Memorial Day recess. Speak highly of his staff Alexandra Teitz, recepient of the 'Unsung Heroes Award.'

Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN): If you're an entrepreneur start a business now. Now is the time. Go with alternative energy. Will create new economy. Follow the investments. Presenting an "Unsung Heroes Award" to David Greene from Oak Ridge Lab.

Panel: Business Response - Are we ready to "Ramp Up" EE to its Full Potential?

Stephen Harper, Intel: Intel joined ASE in 2008. Talks about energy efficiency and climate change. ICT - information communication technology, the micro story. The EE of individual device. Quoted McKinsey analysis on climate change. Smart grid. Smart buildings. A lot of opportunities out there. McKinsey Global 2020, by .. carbon footprint be reduced by 30%. Huge potential for climate policy. What's missing from being fully realized? It's the policy: Market policy, climate, energy, transportation policies, etc. There will a lot of money all over the world to jump start the economy. Stimulus and green economy. A number of longer term prospect. Intel likes the R&D. It's going to be very healthful. EE and smart grid is important. Intel is the largest purchaser of RE the largest in the US. Smart grid gives potential to a number of products embedded to it. Not going to be easy, there are barriers in the utility system. From Intel standpoint it's important to advocate the macro story, continue making efficient products.

Paula Grant, American Gas Association: Can we do it? In our household "Yes, We Can!" Attributed to Pres. Obama. The AGA is the distribution component of the industry. 64 mil households. Members think it's important to help consumers to do energy efficiency. Show graph that show the declining use of natural gas residential customer since 1970 1% redux 39% less natural residential customers than in 1970. Gas consumption directly correlated to GHG. Gas customers lead in efficiency gains. 01-07 had a decrease of 7%. This is the one sector in the economy that has exceeded Kyoto Protocol guideline. How they make it happen? In 1997 $500 mil EE significant energy efficiency savings save 218 mil therms saving 1.3 mil tons of CO2. They can do this because they've been working .. decoupling remove the link between revenue and sales (?) The Association 28 utilities 20 mil customers that have fully decouple rate. Business is aligned ..goes beyond decoupling. Members committed to transition in this economy. 2 policies they promote: 1) carbon footprint labeling in appliances, 2) continue funding for LNG tech.

Raymond Scheppach, National Gov. Association: Highlights of the 3 points 1) what states can do 2) how do we swallow it 3) how ..most recent 30 of 50 gov talk about EE. 23 states EE targes 39 Comm buildings standards. In terms of stimulus 275B that come to states that has to be spent efficiently. 4 broad cat - with deficit in states $250 bil - shortfall is huge. 1) flex funds: state education, medicaid to offset cuts in budget shortfall, 2) highways, energy $100 bil (no flexibility) some can be spent quickly 3) safety net $40bil foodstamps, etc. 4) long term R&D, alt energy 31 energy programs will be getting additional funding. Emphasizing Governors to have vision. Bigger programs state: energy programs (budget 70x before) it to be comm and spent over a year, weatherization. The shortfall is going to happen a 3-year period. Serious challenge to spend money quick and wisely.

Steve Cowell, Conservation Services Group: (this is the one business adding jobs). Regulators > Program implementaion vendors ? Installation/ implementation contractors HVAC, Builder, electrical, engineering, insulation, design. Low income DOE-state-CBO-contractors work thru community-based organizations. Hire a whole host of contractors. Public buildings/ performance contrac: FEMP-agency-performace administrator- (miss this)..multiple layers..Honeywell = implementation vendors, TRW measurement & eval program design (summit) The challenge to add people to do the work..projected growth $25 bn increase Workforce add 175k new employees. The future workforce from layoffs (housing, construction). Training plan/ business development, capital (serious problem). Have to think long term to convince business to get the policy in place so state and Fed level investments can continue. Can't ignore LT strat with ST strat.

David Carmell, International Code Council: 3 steps involved in getting from the concept to higher enregy efficiency: 1) strong code, 2) adoption and 3) enforcement. Graph of Government consensus concept. Code contains all kinds of reference of standards from other organizations. Residnetial Code changes from 06 to 09 (maybe posted on ASE website) 40 states and DC adopted IECC Code. Once 2009 IECC (all the Codes used to be regional Codes). www.icee.org

Sally Wilson, CB Richard Ellis: Have big committment in sustainability. Total SF 70 bn SF. Bldgs sector + residential 39% of energy use contributes 32% CO2 emission. The # of bldgs qual for Energy Star jumped 40%. CB partnered with Energy Star.

William Millar, American Public Transportation Association: Talks about energy savings thru public transportation. 6500 diff org systems 10 bil passengers to 30 systems provide 70% boardings (NY, SF, DC, LA) rev $47 bil, 380k employees. Transit saves 4.2 bil gal of gas a year= 40% of import oil from Saudi Arabia. Transit saves energy. Nice picture of showing how if we take cars from the road and replace it with transit, i.e. photos of 60 cars in traffic jam vs. people packed up in a transit system (bus, train, etc.). People in HK because of density, use bike and transit system heavily. We do need increase in our investments in public transit. What is needed investment, integration of land use & transportation, national commitment to reduce energy use.

Sen. Bingaman (D-NM): Briefly talked about ARRA and work in the Committee. Manufacturing tax credit ceiling $2.3 bil that Treasury has to allocate to projects. Have hearings on smart grid, portfolio standard, additional hearings water efficiency, development in public land, etc. within next two or three weeks. Bill out of Committee maybe in next 3-4 weeks with 4 goals: 1) step up committment to EE, 2) implement American made energy technologies on broader scale: solar, wind, CSS - bring clean energy to market as far as job creation, RPS, 3) financing mechanism to fully support renewable power. Some legislative changes to loan guarantee, 4) focus on clean energy cutting edge R&D for long-term. He said he's not clear how Senate going to solve cap-and-trade. It's outside the jurisdiction of his committee. He then take questions from audience.

Panel: Are we ready to measure success? Managing the challenges of EM&V (energy, measurement and valuation)

Kathleen Hagan, EPA: EE measurement is important because EE is critical to meet climate change objectives. The impact is price impact. Price alone doesn't let energy efficiency come to the market. Need a way to measure the impact, effectiveness of the policy. How do you measure the policy? Potential EE funding to further cliamte change/ enviro objectives. Dingel-Boucher proposed climate leg $20bn for energy efficiency. When measuring EE you measure energy saved. It's an estimate. Going over EPA experience, i.e. Energy Star, protocol document evalution guide for NOx emission; national action plan model EE program (07). Energy Star producing sig benefits developing methods for best practices. Natl Action Plan for EE. Vision for 2025 provides 10 policy framework. epa.gov/eeactionplan.

Joe Loper, VP Policy ASE: The pressure's on: more money on stimulus and DSM, performance-based funding from cap & trade allowance, performance-based compensation from carbon offsets, energy saving credits (white tags), performance-based regulation - natl. EERS. EM&V is very rich. There's so many info out there on EE. Gov program usually cost-and-reimburse. You don't go out and pay people for achieving results.

Acronyms (from his presentation): GO NAPEE, NEEP, EVO, LBNL, EPA, DOE, IEA. More experts is needed, 3k new experts needed in 2009, projected number of experts needed in 2010 about 6,000. Program certification AEE/EVO, CMVP, IEA/LBNL.

Steven Schiller, Schiller Consulting: Talks about Documenting the Benefits of EE. Jimmy Carter expressed concern that US was the only world industrial country that didn't have national energy policy. (Interesting). >> Note: Egrid database.

On Q&A someone asked about training or education for grad students. Looking at the schools that have programs offered: UC Davis. MIT. Starting the program. One of the panelists said that 1) depending on program ..Kathleen chimed in, she said that she's been meeting with people trying to identify programs currently in place. ASEE website has info on certification program; it's a 3-day intensive program (for people with energy background), International Energy Agency also might have some information about training. 

At the end of the event, I heard that Alliance is going to put the presentation online. When? That's a good question...

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Additional Resources:

Energy Efficiency in the Recovery Bill

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus) 

Electric Revenue Decoupling Explained

Less Demand, Same Great Revenue

Live Blogging: Va. Green Jobs & Clean Energy

I am blogging from a townhall meeting on "Green Jobs and Clean Energy" in Richmond. Meeting is hosted by Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3). He'll be joined by an interesting mix of panelists: Karl Bren (Green Visions), Michael Schewel (McGuireWoods), Glen Besa (Sierra Club), Thad Williamson (Univ. of Richmond) and Prof. James Wetzel (VCU). 

The room was packed. I think people are really excited to hear what's coming on the line via Stimulus package. That or they're looking for new jobs.

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(scroll down to read from beginning)

Q&A. Not in particular order. A guy asked about how Gov would handle waste. Sierra: Check recovery.gov website to make sure that funds get distributed properly. Quite a line up questioners (maybe more than 20 people).

• How do we get trained?
• Weatherization is it only for poor people? Rental properties need weatherization, too.
• Mandate for transit vs. road improvement? Fix-it priority according to Scott is done a lot quicker. There's significant priority to repair. If local gov not under contract in 180 days will lose some funds.
• Environmental literacy among ordinary citizens if the Adm trying to do something?
• A teacher who just got laid off asking 'how do we get green jobs?'
• A lady said that she sent 354 letters to Cong. Scott..how community going to use the money? He said that they have the biggest turnout of elected officials in the morning during briefing. Most of the control is via state and local government. Check www.recovery.gov to follow the $. 
• A lady said she'd lived in CA, OR before moving to Va. She's surprised that people do not recycle much around here.. complain about the hood she lives... bring ideas from her 13 year kid for the state/ local gov. to convert trash to cash or energy.
• Farming and forestry anything to help these industries? A: FSC certified wood. Scott added that Congress passed conservation for Chesapeake bay. Expect to see more wood certification going forward.
• A guy who's rented asking if there's anything to help renters or should say landlords to fix-up properties.. anything in the bill to deal with that. Landlord has no incentive. Prob is something to do with education. A: a lot of $ for retrofit but not directly help landlords.. tax credits to pay portion of weatherization cost.. landlord has no financial interest.
• Interesting.. somebody is promoting their biz instead of asking question.
• Va. lock in energy monopoly via Dominion Power.. why Va. don't do something with solar power, he doesn't think that Virginia doing that.. he's hoping that DP get on board with energy conservation. Scott said we should check the pricing structure.
• Last question. Not a question, rather a statement. Her Congressman is Cantor. Is there a reason that because she doesn't live in his district she can't email him?

8:50pm: Closing remarks. Touched issue on energy conservation.

7:29pm: Karl Bren been doing green homes for 15 years. We have a deadline. Have no time to waste. Talk about the most immediate to do energy efficiency, winterize homes. Tell a story about his insulation on the attic. We waste so much energy (right on!). Try to green his church... Said that we have to increase efficiency for our homes not only to save $ reduce carbon footprint. Putting insulation, heatpump, A/C, water, etc. - is energy consuming product. He is EarthCraft guy in Va.

7:19pm: Michael Schewel. He said that he represents the unrepented capitalist. Key point to create green job you have to be able to create money for private enterprise. Green energy in Va. Energy have 36k employees, if incl. nuclear 6-9k that's today. Tomorrow, show statistics. 2008 number is flat econ is flat. Chart total global new investment in clean energy that's trending up. Wind energy grows 74% solar 52% efficiency 57%. Services in Va. going to grow the most, comp tech, military development - things that generate all sorts of improvements. There's co. in Va. works on clean tech for wind power (didn't mention the name). Show another chart of grid parity coming soon between solar vs. cost of electricity. More jobs avail in this industry, install, manufacture, etc. Biggest opportunity in Va. is nuclear (the biggest co.doing nuclear - didn't hear it clear has the HQ in Va.?), energy efficiency, services, green tech, energy crops and equipment manufacturing. Need to mention that green energy is more expensive than fossil fuel (huh?).

7:09pm: Thad Williamson. A couple of points: 1) expert announce carbon emission worldwide increasing. 2) the country still growing, 390M people in 2050 3) 2006 data 12K manufacturing jobs in Richmond, 40% decrease in 6 years - this is national trend, blue collar jobs 4) live in house 1922 small portion of income goes to heating bill. 5) people lives in Richmond leaves as soon as they have the resources to go. Mentioned about Van Jones book Green collar economy. Combining green jobs and economic justice. The goal is to get rid of poverty. There are many examples in the country. For example in DC. Richmond, CA leader connecting employer and job training efforts. No reason Richmond, Va. can get to that point.

7:01pm: 2nd.. speaker. Trying to get his name.. Said that green jobs are not new that Fed has. Overview on how to utilize resources better. What we see now is what used to be clean jobs now are called green jobs. Green jobs not new, that's the message. OK got his name, Prof. James Wetzel with VCU.

6:50pm: Glen Besa speaks. Talk about Sierra Club. A couple of environment folks from NRDC, Pew Inst. in audience.  The stimulus is important to the economy. Money and programs directed to green jobs. The issue of climate change how we need to reduce the risk of climate change. Energy security is another concern. As we repair schools and Fed bldgs is opportunity to make them greener. What is a green job? It's basically the jobs you already have. Accountant working for solar company. Building retrofit a lot of money going to that. Transit. Wind power, solar power, bio-fuels, biomass, etc. These are the things if invested here cannot be outsourced - will stay. Talk about CAP study on green jobs. Mentioned a few Va spec: $21M a year for drinking water; $81M clean up the bay, $1.16B transit project, $51M public housing capital fund, $71M for state energy program, $96M weatherization (10x amount of $ from past). Potential wind power in the state. Va coastal resource study on Va beach coast 4000 MW (=7 plant Wise county).

6:35pm: Congressman Bobby Scott opening remarks. Today Pres. Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The most important issue to address is job losses. What the Act is the opportunity to change the economy as well as create new jobs for the economy. Green economy. People are looking for newer and cleaner energy. Reduce heating, etc. Go down the list what this bill is about. Showed chart on job losses in recent recession. (I see if I can get the chart for the blog). Remind the audience that we have 13 consecutive mos of recession. Show chart majority of states in recession. Highlights of what the bill do, i.e: historic increases in eduction, infrastructure improvements, investment in science and tech, tax cuts for American families, tax incentives for state and local economy, extended unemployment benefits, lowers healthcare cost and modernize healthcare system, green jobs, tax incentives for renewables, energy efficiency, etc. Money will be distributed through the states via block and formula grants.

Bobby Scott says that "Investment via green jobs to make America more competitive." Then intro the five panelists.

6:30pm: Waiting for the meeting to start. Dr. Scott, director of the facility (Adult Ed) welcoming the guests.

e-DIIs

EDII is short for Energy Discovery Innovation Institutes, an initiative proposes by Blueprint for American Prosperity (a Brookings Inst. project). The idea behind this is to complement the lack of energy R&D (since Feds spends 1% of budget on energy R&D), for a total of Feds committment of $6 billion per year to create a national network of e-DII. Think of this is as energy R&D hubs of network linking the nation's best scientists, engineers and facilities. The goals are: 1) to create future jobs, and 2) transform regional economies.

Read policy brief here.

Blogging Green Jobs National Conference (day 1)

I am blogging from Omni Shoreham Hotel in DC the site of national conference. Connection is poor (read: no signal), so this is a delayed blogging. The ballroom, where event is held - is packed. There’s probably more than 500 attendees. Today is the first day of the conference. Line up of speakers for today among others include: David Foster (Blue Green Alliance), Leo Gerard (United Steelworker), Donald Kennedy (Sierra Club), Achim Steiner (UNDP), Larry Cohen (CWA), Denise Bode (AWEA), Peter Lehner (NRDC). Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5) will also talk.

9:00 David Foster the Exec. Director of Blue Green Alliance give a welcome remarks. Let’s talk to Congress make sure they make a big downpayment on the green economy.

9:19 Leo Gerard, Intl. President of United Steelworkers. He said his parents be upset if he says ‘bullshit’ as his introduction. Thanks some corporation veeps, Al Gore, Gamesa, etc. These corps. understand and understood the one thing in common they represented by United Steelworkers. He’s much happier this year than last year. There’s no free market. All market is regulated. Quoted Apollo Alliance study of investment $100B would create 2 mil green jobs. Talks about relationship with Gamesa. 100% union in America. Think about what we can do if every town and cities have resources, retrofit those buildings. Housing is flat. Some members don’t have jobs. Smart grid allows to move energy without losing much. Create millions of jobs. Fascinating to watch what happens on the Hill, esp. Republicans. There are some Democrats, too. Majority in the room over 30. Quoted FDR. Barack Obama is going to be our FDR. We know where his heart is. Direction pointed in. We know he can’t get there by himself. See labor not as a problem, but as a solution. 58% of manufacturing goods, imported goods from China are from cos. used to manufacture products here. Talks about global warming. Closing by saying that it’s time for Canadian gov. to start defending their workers.

9:42 Don Kennedy speaks. Thanks Leo for BS intro. 2 big probs: global warming, fiscal chilly. Mechanism we can use to solve this probs. New spirit of leadership here. Soon to be expressed by me and you. He’s glad that ‘science is back.’ Welcoming it back. It’s really a new set of players.

9:49 Achim Steiner representing UNEP. UNEP is the first of UN family happens to open office located in Kenya. 2006 met Barack O in Kenya. This meeting is quite extra ordinary. The labor movement is again today is movement of people. What it means to be citizens of global economy. Sustainable economy. The fact today more jobs in RE than gas +oil industry. Green jobs already happening in part because of environment. Climate change. Imagine 30/40 yrs from now there won’t be any commercial fisheries. Ecosystem. Water crisis. This is an outcome of ignorance, arrogance think about what we’re doing today and how we should change course. This moment in America is extraordinary. How the people elected leader such as Pres. Obama. To drive the future of economy. Green eco. recovery package are now all over the world, it’s a global discussion. Whether is Japan, China. Where are the jobs going to come from? There’s fundamental shift. More efficient, less polluting. This is the role UN plays. Roosevelt is quoted. Market is not free forces, never been. FDR is one of the architects of what’s vital in the global eco.

10:06 Larry Cohen intro. Steel workers rapid change team had rally incl. rebirth of workers rights. Begin 1m march to bring back workers rights, free choice act. Clean environment. Talk about Canada, Columbia trade agreement. Fair trade v. sustainable economy. Unite the employee free choice act. They’re related. We all believe in sustainable economy. We believe that what we produce is more important than what we consume. Workers can’t be just another commodity. Workers have rights around the world. 1mil members march is about bring back workers rights. Without workers can’t make green economy a reality. Talk about 2 of CWA’s members work with different cos of why we’re marching today. Good jobs, green jobs we have to work for it. Sustainable eco. is not about protectionist. A lot of this conf. is about good public policy. 1.4 mil people mobilize. Sustainability is what unite us. Barack said that this is our time. Econ recovery is not about jobs. We want green jobs. 

We're waiting for Congressman Keith Ellison, (D-MN). Schedule shows 11am.

11:10: Peter Lehner talks about challenges how challenges also creates opportunities. Good jobs that bring dignity for our family and community. Economy system is part of economy system. Gives example of climate change affecting a lot of us. 51k jobs can be created in mass transit. We need comprehensive policy. Now.

11:18 Keith Ellison was introduced from Montana.. ooops! Should have been Minnesota. Ellison warms up to the crowd. This is an opportunity for all of us to be part of worldwide movement to save our jobs. This is our business. Can't exclude anybody. We can't leave anybody out. Solidify our coalition. It starts from the local community. Start getting the civil rights comm + labor + environment talk about our collective problems. Talk about stimulus package and process. Empower people to get active. You gotta right the bill. Bill is not done until it is sign by the President. Gotta impact this process. Save this economy right now. Reach out and get everybody and everybody make green economy. Thanks the audience for their time.

11: 32 Deniso bode talks about 20% of wind energy by 2030. US tops in wind energy production pass Germany. 25MW can generate enough electricity to power 7M homes. Pres. Obama's vision to double production by 2012 is visible. Now, let's talk about jobs. We're adding jobs even as the econ. sluggish. '07 & '08 adding or expanding 70 new facilities in U.S. Great news for American workers. Every job created in this industry is a new one. Wind projects can be built quickly. Let's work together to get the tools. Together, we can get the job done.

Attendees will go to the Hill for advocacy day (read: grassroots lobbying). And am back to office to take care some biz.

Technorati Tags: green energy,sustainable economy,green jobs,climate change,2009 good jobs green jobs conference,washington dc,green building,global warming,global economy, greenhouse gas

Blogging: Greentech and Green Building Opportunity

This webminar is hosted by Greentech media with Michael Canellos, Editor-in-Chief. Speaker: Pat Bailey, Product Manager, AEC Sustainable Initiatives Autodesk, Inc. 

Michael Canellos: Introduced Pat Bailey. AEC= architecture, engineering & construction

Pat Bailey: He's got cold. Apologizes for his not so clear voice.

2:09pm: Architecture 2030. LEED is a proxy of green building in the U.S. All around the world there are effort. Green Globe.

2:12: 25 years sustainability practice at Autodesk. Talks about the definition of sustainability. 3x bottom line. Administration wants green jobs. Context in econ. benefits, benefits to eco-system. Take energy price for the year, it will an increase from previous. Recognize the volatility and harmful to business community. The problem uncertainty in energy prices.

2:14: Very specific def: context building enviro: energy, lighting cooling, etc. Goal green building reduce value to as close as to zero.

2:16: Water conservation or efficiency. Building as efficient as possible. Think about water. Like reclaiming gray water, water from roofs. Give example of City of Atlanta, which had water shortage last year. Think about water and efficiency in the beginning of project.

2:19: Think about the way land is use. Autodesk: thought should be given what happens if I change orientation, shading solar panels, etc. Analysis can be done in a matter of minute now. Energy use incl. solar analysis, daylighting; if you're in Tucson what happens with window choices? Have to optimize natural light and heat use.

2:23: Carbon neutral design. Out of roof area if power with solar. Building efficiency. Reclaim, recover, gray waters. Lack of attention: structure of building.

2:25: Tools. Touch Autodesk products: Green building studio and Ecotech. Ecotech is not whole building energy analysis, i.e. look @ views, 2 sticks, primary benefit rich, visual enviro allows people to communicate idea with pixs. 

2:30: Leveraging BIM. BIM Suite. Proposing people looking at multiple form. Build a model in kinda 3-4 hrs, look at 'what if' implications. Analysis can be done in something like 30 sec.

2:36: Constrution cos. building own information models. They believe they're close to project, can identified with cost savings. Point is: there is a place for everybody in BIM. Intent: users can work in virtual enviro, do analysis of various sort esp sustainability related. They can do this early in process. Same model should be followed with retrofit. Analysis costs less to do virtually than 'real life.' Check autodesk.com/green.

Q&A:

What is carbon neutrality? A: Carbon neutrality= not absolute green in def yet. Simplest is to take natl ave carbon footprint of a kw elect reduce your building that even if you don't use or you offset them with RE or buying REC. 

- N. America on the cutting edge or lagging behind in this tech (again)? Fully functional in America for both tech. Can't say too much about the exact plan. There's desire to have this avail throughout the world. Right now N. America. Stay tuned.. Rabid? name of software.. German co. Think that EU gen population, Germany for example solar potential there, gov. mandate & subsidies. Knows a couple of friends uses solar energy that heats the entire 2k s.f. US, lotsa changes coming. 

-- intermittent connection.. argh..I should say got disconnected!.. missed a lot of Q&A.

Autodesk is building HQ LEED platinum. Couldn't go into more details. He's a big fan of locally available material. Agnostic when it comes to specific tech. Electric chrome window, issue is window the biggest design. In Tucson or Phoenix maybe important...

Note: check also on Twitter..will also upload slides sometime today, so check back.

Utilities and Solar Tax Credit: IREC

This afternoon IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council) hosted a phone seminar on "The Utilities and Solar Tax Credit." The conference call is co-hosted by IREC, SEPA and sponsored by DOE. They got some 300 people listening to the call.

There are three (amazing) presenters for this seminar:

1. Christopher Cook, managing director with SunWorks, LLC.
2. Eric Silagy, VP with Florida Power and Light.
3. Keith Martin, attorney with ChadBourne and Parke, LLP.

Christopher Cook: He talks about emerging trend of how Investor-Owned-Utilities (IOUs) can now own solar system directly and claim credit. Therefore, the need for third party structure diminished except for those utilities that can't claim tax credit, i.e. because have poor credit, do not want to or not allowed by regulators, and muni utilities that has no tax base. He said that the benefits to solar industry, ITC can create greater interest from utilities. Case in point: SCE, PSE&G, Duke Energy - all have sought approval from regulators for their utility solar projects. Furthermore, IOUs direct ownership of solar would allow the utilities to claim a longer life than PPA's (Power Purchase Agreement) structure, which is normally fixed for only 20 years.

Opportunities: 1) large scale utility solar projects, 2) utility based solar programs: rooftops, DG, community solar.

Note: In case you're wondering, tax credit can only be claimed if you have a tax base to offset the credit. If there's no tax base, there's nothing you can offset the credit from. That's why there's discussions (read: supports) for refundable tax credit, that supposedly can help clean energy start-ups.

Eric Silagy: He talks about the impact on ITC's on electric co. decision to build solar generation. Utilities will have to evaluate the benefits of recently passed legislation: a) whether there's tax appetite (again, go back to the tax base), b) ability to include projects in base rates, c) ability to access capital markets, d) how will it affect customer's bill, e) project costs when installed and levelized cost of energy (I guess the ROI?) and f) execution risk. With the credit crisis, he said that accessing capital markets still very challenging, therefore financing costs may be prohibitive, and the the fact that market experience interest for tax credit redux.

Despite all the challenges, he says that FPL 'still' committed to building, owning, and operating solar power plants.

Keith Martin: Talks about the most important thing of the day: updates on the politics of renewable energy. The House is expected to vote on an economic stimulus bill this coming Wednesday. The Senate will 'mark up' their version tomorrow. Touches the issue on possibility of converting large tax subsidies on solar projects into cash, at least on the next two years before we see tax equity market finds its way to recovery. (Republican opposed this part of the bill). There are two Fed's tax subsidies: 1) 30% ITC, 2) depreciation taken over a 5-year stretch. The coming stimulus bill will extend a 50% 'depreciation bonus' well into 2009. Here's the fact: NO solar co. can use the credits/ subs directly! Of 18 institutions that used tax equity into RE projects - only four - yes, you read it right: only "4" cos. still active. That's an almost 75% drops on appetite for tax equity!

House and Senate takes different approaches. House: would let projects completed in '09-10 get refunds from DOE for 30% cost of project. Senate: expected to let all "general business credits" from '09-'10 be carried back up to 5 years. It would also let credits be used to reduce company taxes to zero? Hmm, this is interesting...

The good thing: both House and Senate would bar TARP recipients (like banks and insurance cos.) to participate in carryback!

For more of the discussions, I posted highlights of this phone seminar including Q&As on Twitter.

...

Source: Today's presentations on 'Utilities and Solar Tax Credit' by Cook, Silagy, and Martin [.pdf]