Interior Secretary Ken Salazar wants to create renewable energy zones to spur solar and wind energy projects, and build power lines to get the electricity to markets. In an interview with The Associated Press, Salazar said that while some regions of the country as well as offshore areas have great potential for wind energy and solar, there isn’t a clear plan to develop the resources.
Word around the blogs is that Van Jones has been tapped to serve as a “green jobs czar” in the Obama administration. We’re still trying to confirm, and we’ll have more soon on this potential new role for someone who’s been a household name.
McKinsey and Company recently released their report that outlines a path toward realizing the President’s goal by showing how current technology, if fully deployed, could dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the report, many of the technologies identified would provide savings to consumers and create thousands of new, green-collar jobs.
Last week, Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a major partnership between their departments that will use $16 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help create green jobs and to make it easier for families to weatherize their homes. The program is also designed to spur a new home energy efficiency industry that could create tens of thousands of jobs.
