Van Jones' New Boss!

by: Eileen

Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:13:31 PM EST

From Green for All's Van Jones...

Great news! I'm going to the White House! And Green For All has an amazing new leader!

Special Advisor For Green Jobs: Me

I will be at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. My job will be to help shape the administration's energy and climate policy, so that climate solutions produce jobs and justice for all Americans.

I am going to be the Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Dispelling Some Rumors

If you've had your ear to the blogosphere in the past few days, you may have heard some rumors. The most prevalent call me the new "Green Jobs Czar."

But I am not going to be any kind of  "Czar."  If anyone were to be the "Green Jobs Czar" (a position that does not exist), it would and should be Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. She was an original sponsor of the Green Jobs Act of 2007. Obama appointed her as the first Latina - and first green leader - to head the Department of Labor. Can anyone say "Green Jobs Czarina"?

Also, rumors that I will be handing out big piles of Recovery Act cash are utterly false. Unfortunately. :)

But enough about me. My new position with the Obama White House is not the only miracle that we are celebrating this week.

Washington Pushes for More Transmission, Fast

by: Boblazaro

Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 14:25:30 PM EST

If legislation circulating on the Hill is adopted, transmission lines will soon be relabeled "green". Even if the new lines would be used to ship dirty, coal-fired generation. Even if cheaper, cleaner alternatives like energy efficiency haven't been pursued. Even if thousands of acres of forests would have to be clear-cut.

This is a terrible way to plan for our energy future. The legislation would federalize transmission siting without changing the utilities' backroom planning process or requiring more than a cursory look at alternatives.

Offshore Wind! Yes, its real!

by: ClimateJess

Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 11:11:32 AM EST

After two years of study, a group of scientists and energy experts has concluded that building a wind farm off Virginia Beach is feasible, would cost about $1 billion and could spur more than 1,000 "green" jobs over three years.

The most viable project, the group said, would consist of 196 turbines, each 300 feet tall, converting heavy offshore winds into electricity in waters roughly east of Back Bay.

The envisioned farm, which private energy interests would construct, would not interfere with tourism, fishing or military training - the Navy even could become a partner, the study said.

This report comes out on the heels of several other important disclosures on wind.  First, disappointing realization that Virginia is one of only a handful of states with no major wind installations. Temper that however with our tremendous smart grid funding opportunities, which make this more feasible.  
And the news that wind now employs more people than coal!!  

Despite state funding issues, this is the time for us to lead in wind!  Lets make jobs, secure our national independence, and protect our environment...all at the same time.

More on the report after the jump.

Staunton Green 2020: How the Green Economy Can Create Jobs for All

by: Eileen

Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 13:04:59 PM EST

Green may have been the new black for the last few years, but with the incoming Obama administration promising more than $800 billion in its ?American Recovery and Reinvestment stimulus package, fighting global warming could soon become good business in cities of all sizes. Join Staunton's new clean energy coalition, Staunton Green 2020, for an evening of green education, discussion, and networking.

(h/t Riley Murray, Blue Commonwealth)

Obama's Stimulus Gets it (halfway) Right

by: ClimateJess

Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 18:00:00 PM EST

Clean, Efficient, American Energy: To put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will strengthen efforts directed at doubling renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient.
• $32 billion to transform the nation's energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology.
• $16 billion to repair public housing and make key energy efficiency retrofits.
• $6 billion to weatherize modest-income homes.