Solar Power Plant Construction Brings 200 Green Jobs to  Denver – Xcel Energy Inc. and SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, yesterday announced an agreement to build a 17-megawatt AC photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Colorado’s Alamosa County. When completed at the end of 2010, the power plant will be the second-largest high-efficiency solar PV power plant in North America. It is expected to create approximately 200 jobs during construction.  More on green jobs in Denver, CO.

Annapolis to Build Clean-Energy Industrial Park – Annapolis officials have unveiled plans to build a clean-energy industrial and educational park that would feature a garden that produces biofuels and a solar-power system that would generate enough energy to power a city.  The new park is part of the state’s plan to become a nationwide leader in studying and producing rc.   It is part of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s plan to create 100,000 “green-collar” jobs in the state in six years.  More on green jobs in Annapolis, MD

Feingold Announces Stimulus Funds to Create Green Jobs in Wisconsin– U.S. Senator Russ Feingold announced today that the Department of Treasury has given the green light for states to begin issuing bonds authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the economic stimulus bill, to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and create green jobs. Wisconsin can issue $58 million in Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECB) to private investors for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Investors receive federal tax credits in return. During Senate consideration of the ARRA, Feingold successfully expanded eligibility for the QECB program to projects in privately owned buildings, helping more homeowners and business owners afford the costs of going green through energy efficiency and conservation upgrades.  The funds could help programs like Milwaukee’s Me2 Program to create green-collar jobs installing energy efficiency upgrades in buildings.  More on green jobs in Wisconsin.

Ohio Hopes to Offset Job Loss by Investing in Alternative Energy and Providing Incentives to Business. Ohio is investing heavily in alternative energy like wind and solar power hoping to create jobs in a state hard hit by the national recession and high unemployment.  The state’s Third Frontier Project , a $1.6 billion initiative, is aimed at helping new businesses while bolstering existing ones over the next 10 years.  In 2008 the state legislature adopted the Ohio Job Stimulus Program, a three year program which includes $150 million for grants and low interest loans aimed at energy development, including $66 million for so-called clean coal technology and $84 million for non-coal energy development including wind and solar.  Read more about green jobs in Ohio.

Los Angeles Building Retrofit Designed to Boost Green Jobs – The L.A. City Council yesterday unanimously passed a “Green Building Retrofit Ordinance” that will retrofit all city-owned buildings larger than 7,500 square feet or built before 1978 with a target of hitting LEED Silver-level certification.  The green jobs element of the project involves putting highest priority on retrofitting buildings that are located in low-income communities, as well as buildings that directly benefit those communities, like libraries and recreation centers.  More on green jobs in Los Angeles.

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Author: Tracey de Morsella (323 Articles)

Tracey de Morsella started her career working as an editor for US Technology Magazine. She used that experience to launch Delaware Valley Network, a publication for professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area. Years later, she used the contacts and resources she acquired to work in executive search specializing in technical and diversity recruitment. She has conducted recruitment training seminars for Wachovia Bank, the Department of Interior and the US Postal Service. During this time, she also created a diversity portal called The Multicultural Advantage and published the Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit, a directory of recruiting resources for human resources professionals. Her career and recruitment articles have appeared in numerous publications and web portals including Woman Engineer Magazine, Monster.com, About.com Job Search Channel, Workplace Diversity Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management web site, NSBE Engineering Magazine, HR.com, and Human Resource Consultants Association Newsletter. Her work with technology professionals drew her to pursuing training and work in web development, which led to a stint at Merrill Lynch as an Intranet Manager. In March, she decided to combine her technical and career management expertise with her passion for the environment, and with her husband, launched The Green Economy Post, a blog providing green career information and covering the impact of the environment, sustainable building, cleantech and renewable energy on the US economy. Her sustainability articles have appeared on Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation, Chem.Info,FastCompany and CleanTechies.