RecyGrow Hopes to Create 500 Green Jobs in WI. President Barack Obama and Gov. Jim Doyle have said they want green jobs, and they want them now. A young Wisconsin company wants to answer the call and create hundreds of sustainable green jobs in Janesville. In fact, the partners in RecyGrow have a handshake agreement to lease a building in Janesville that could employ up to 500 people in its first year. RecyGrow would use green technologies to grow plant life from processed recycled materials. In Janesville, it would grow sod and other groundcover plants indoors on racks under grow lights. More on green jobs in Wisconsin.
Culver Signs Wind Energy Bill to Bring 2,300 Green Jobs To Iowa. Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed into law two bills designed to expand Iowa’s wind energy industry. The bills utilize unused tax credits to promote small wind energy projects across the state and provide economic incentives for wind component manufacturers who are looking at building or expanding in Iowa. Iowa currently ranks second behind Texas in wind energy production, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Iowa is home to 1,999 wind turbines that produce nearly 2,800 megawatts of electricity each year, according to the governor’s office. Iowa is home to five major wind energy component manufacturers — Acciona, Clipper, Siemens, TPI and Trinity towers. It is hoped that more than 2,300 green-collar jobs created through wind energy. More on green jobs in Iowa.
Oregon House Considers Green Jobs Legislation. Green jobs would get high-level attention under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives. House Bill 3300 would direct the Oregon Workforce Investment Board, the group that advises the governor on workforce issues, to come up with a plan to identify, promote and define green jobs. Under the bill, the Workforce Investment Board would develop a plan to match training opportunities for low-income Oregonians with careers in the green economy. The plan would identify areas where investments in training programs are needed to meet industry needs. More on green jobs in Oregon.
Exelon and SunPower to Develop Nation’s Largest Urban Solar Power Plant Creating 200 Jobs in Chicago. Exelon and SunPower Corp.recently announced an agreement to develop the nation’s largest urban solar power plant at a former industrial site on Chicago’s South Side. The 10-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) facility is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.The project will create about 200 jobs at prevailing wage rates during construction, maximizing the use of local labor and providing job training opportunities. The solar power systems will consist of many U.S.-made components, including steel tubing sourced from businesses on Chicago’s South Side. More on green jobs in Illinois.
