The Green Jobcast, episode 17, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. This week news on solar jobs and wind jobs. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has announced a significant addition to Michigan’s burgeoning clean-energy industrial base as Georgia-based Suniva Inc. will invest $250 million in a new solar manufacturing facility in Saginaw County’s Thomas Township. Suniva will create 500 new jobs over the next five years subject to receiving a Department of Energy loan guarantee, which the company recently applied for.
Also in Michigan…Dow Chemical has been working on a solar shingle for a couple of years now, and Monday, the company said it was ready to test market the product. If it works, it would turn any home that uses them into a mini power station. It could also bring jobs to Mid-Michigan. Dow Solar Solutions currently employs 60 people, but if this product does what the company believes it can do, there could be several hundred jobs to follow. The solar shingles have been produced at Dow’s Solar Solution facility, and it’s possible shingles like these will be in limited use next year.
We’ve got a few new green jobs to tell you about, first on Jobs in Solar Power, Clean Energy Constructors (Phoenix, Arizona) has an opening for Senior Solar Photovoltaic Electrical Installer – Perform duties of a commercial Senior PV Electrical Installer for Clean Energy Constructors (CEC). You must possess the skills necessary to plan, organize and perform all PV installation activities, such as, racking/panel mounting, equipment & metering installation, substation breaker installation, and associated DC/AC conduit & wire installation. You must be able to meet with clients to coordinate the completion of the roof-top or ground mount arrays.
Unirac, Inc. (Albuquerque, New Mexico) is seeking a Structural engineer job. Highly successful, rapid growing solar module racking manufacturer seeking Structural Engineer to provide technical support for the Custom Solutions Group. Responsibilities will include heavy emphasis on structural analysis and design of racking components and systems for a variety of standard and custom configurations, interpretation and application of building codes, and extensive interaction with customers. Bachelor’s degree in structural engineering with a minimum of eight (8) years of progressive design experience is required. Experience in the design of cold-formed steel for structural applications and knowledge of construction practices and standards is strongly desired.
And in Sullivan County NY, Sullivan County Community College is looking for Wind Turbine Technology Faculty. Instructor needed to implement a curriculum in Wind Turbine Technology in spring 2010 and teach major classes starting in August 2010. The instructor will assist in recruiting and marketing activities and teach additional courses appropriate to experience until the curriculum is fully implemented.
Qualifications include a Master’s degree (strongly preferred) or Bachelor’s degree with demonstrated equivalent industry experience in operating and maintaining large and small wind turbines (required).
The Green Jobcast, episode 14, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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First up… In New Mexico, Solar power and green jobs are on the way for the town of Belen and Valencia County, both hit hard in the recession. Governor Bill Richardson delivered the good news about three new solar power dishes for Belen’s city hall, and a new 160 acre solar testing and research center—to be called Star Center.
Rick Scheu, VP of Operations for Integrative Solar said, “The construction of this project will employ hundreds of people during construction, and at least 50 positions after it’s built.”
The NY Times is reporting that 3 companies in Michigan, Clairvoyant Energy, Xtreme Power and Oerlikon Solar have committed to moving into the vacant Ford Wixom plant. Executives and local officials will gather at the plant this week to celebrate the redevelopment project, which the state sees as a centerpiece of its green-oriented revival effort.
Chief executive of Clairvoyant Energy, David Hardee, said Michigan was an ideal location for his solar-energy company because of the availability of so many skilled workers and its manufacturing background. The Wixom project is expected to create about 4,000 jobs, which would be one of the biggest green-energy developments in the state so far.
In Pennsylvania, Thousands of people apply for ethanol jobs – Construction of the ethanol plant near Clearfield is nearing completion and should be up and running at the start of the new year, according to the plants general manager Roger Schmidt. Construction on the plant is 80 percent complete and the plant should be operational by Jan. 2. The company is in the process of hiring 55 full-time jobs at the plant but is no longer taking applications for most of the positions at the plant because of the high volume of applicants. Thus far the company has received more than 3,200 applications with some of the administrative positions receiving more than 150 applicants per job.
3 new biofuel jobs popped up on Jobs in Biofuels.com. A rapidly growing biofuels company on the West Coast is looking for an experienced, highly motivated Senior Scientist. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in BioEngineering or a related discipline, a minimum of 5 years post graduate experience and will have exposure to bioprocessing reactor design and improvement.
And…Terrabon, based in Houston Texas is searching for seasoned professionals to assist in the development of its renewable bio-fuel technology to meet their strategic objectives. They have an opening for the position of Laboratory Manager and Project Development Program Manager in chemical engineering.
The Green Jobcast, episode 13, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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First up… Cobalt Biofuels (based in Mt. View, CA) has raised $25 million to commercialize bio-butanol which can be blended into gasoline, ethanol or used as a solvent. They currently have openings in Bioprocess development.
Seatlle based Clean Scapes, whose trucks are powered by natural gas has acquired $1.6 million to expand their recycling and trash collection business. They have openings in route management and operations.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger just announced the creation of the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program, the nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program.
The program will be funded by $75 million from stimulus funds, public-private partnerships and state and local funding.
It will train more than 20,000 new or re-skilled clean energy workers to build a workforce capable of performing the jobs necessary to meet the state’s goals of renewable energy development, climate change reduction, clean transportation and green building construction.
In ROTHSCHILD, Wisconsin We Energies announced the proposed construction of a $250 million biomass-fueled power plant at Domtar Corporation’s Rothschild, Wisconsin paper mill site. Wood, waste wood and sawdust will be used to produce 50 megawatts of electricity.
The partnership between We Energies and Domtar will add another technology to We Energies’ renewable energy portfolio.
That portfolio includes the state’s largest wind development — the 145 megawatt Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County and the proposed 162 megawatt Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. Together, these projects will be capable of generating enough renewable energy to supply around 120,000 homes.
The project is expected to create approximately 400 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs in the surrounding community, including independent wood suppliers and haulers from northern and central Wisconsin who will secure waste wood for the project.
In florida a solar cell equipment maker is moving from Sarasota County to Manatee County and expects to be adding 125 jobs in the next two years. Mustang Vacuum Systems LLC, which now employs 25, expects to pay an average wage of more than $44,000, according to the Manatee Economic Development Council. The company, which is receiving a grant from Manatee County and money from the state, will move from its site at 1675 Independence Blvd. to the Sarasota Commerce Center in south Manatee County. Mustang’s president, expects the new plant to open by the end of this year. The new 50,000-square-foot plant will allow Mustang to expand its production of “thin-film solar photovoltaic cell equipment.
The Green Jobcast, episode 12, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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First up… a Solar power plant will rise on Kearny NJ landfill.–Gov. Jon Corzine officially announced an $8.5 million plan to construct a solar power plant on the grounds of a former landfill. The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission will lease parts of the landfill to a company that will be responsible for designing, financing, owning and operating the solar facility.
The new plant will cover 28 acres, which is space for enough solar panels to produce 5 megawatts of power, according to the NJMC. It is estimated that the plant would create at least 180 jobs.
Next, CPS Energy and Juwi Solar Inc. have agreed to jointly develop a new solar energy project in Southeast San Antonio. Under the Blue Wing Solar project, Juwi will install 214,500 solar photovoltaic modules near the intersection of Interstate Highway 37 and U.S. Highway 181. The project should generate 14 megawatts of power. This is enough electricity to power 1,800 homes annually.
Juwi Solar, based in Boulder, Colo., expects to break ground on Blue Wing Solar in the first quarter of 2010. Electricity should begin producing toward the end of 2010. The solar facility is expected to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction phase and seven permanent jobs during the operation and maintenance phase.
The Providence Journal is reporting that a start-up company planning a biodiesel storage and blending facility in the Quonset Business Park has expanded the size of its proposal in response to a projected increase in demand for alternative fuels in New England. Alterra plans to create different blends of biodiesel by mixing diesel with soybean oil and other vegetable oils produced in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The Quonset facility could supply 35 million gallons of fuel annually. It will have 18 full-time employees, and construction of the facility could provide an additional 75 temporary jobs. If all goes according to plan, the facility could be up and running by the middle of 2010.
In Tennessee the Chattanooga Times Free Press is reporting Wind turbine tower maker Aerisyn has been purchased by a German company and plans are to add 120 jobs and invest $3 million into the company’s Chattanooga facility. The company said it expects to reach full production by mid-2011 and to employ 240 people.
Join the Green Job Corps….the National Green Energy Council has announced its new Green Jobs Corps program, designed to train people across the nation in Green methods and practices. The Council hopes that class attendees will leave the classroom with a greater knowledge of how to provide certain green services to their customers, and The Council will even assist with job placement!
For more information visit www.GreenEnergyCouncil.com
The Green Jobcast, episode 11, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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in Solar job news…Several hundred jobs could be coming to Southern California’s Coachella Valley if a new photovoltaic solar electricity project goes through as planned…
Hundreds of construction jobs would be created for a large-scale solar power project slated to begin construction in 2012 near Desert Center, about 50 miles east of Indio, according to Southern California Edison.
The project–dubbed Desert Sunlight– is being built by both Southern California Edison and First Solar, Inc., an Arizona based solar module manufacturer, SCE said. It is expected to be completed in 2015, pending network upgrades and receipt of applicable government permits.
A Maryland company has bought a site in North Carolina for a photovoltaic solar farm. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that SunEdison LLC has started grading on the 357-acre site. SunEdison is the largest solar-energy company in North America. Besides 80 construction jobs, the company plans to have three employees. Production is expected to begin by December 2010.
A new wind turbine manufacturing company is open for business and expects to create 25 jobs in Northwest Ohio, SUREnergy expects to open a facility on Gill Road outside Port Clinton and another in Toledo, said Curtis Stokes of Oak Harbor, a partner in the venture.
QUOTE: “Our main focus is to get people’s attention to alternative energy as the future and to create jobs,” Stokes said. “There are a lot of people who are out of work who this industry could help.” Those interested in working for the company should enroll in the Wind Power Technology Certificate program at Terra Community College in Fremont, he said.
The Denver Business Journal is reporting that Wind-energy company REpower USA Corp. of Portland is moving its headquarters to Denver in early September.
The U.S. company, which is a subsidiary of German wind-turbine manufacturer REpower Systems AG, plans to relocate and/or hire 25 employees for its Denver headquarters operation, and possibly double its staff here in about a year. The company did not say where its Denver offices will be located.
Finally in New Jersey, The Department of Continuing and Professional Education at Ocean County College is focusing on developing a talent net work for g reen colla r jobs. All classes will be held on OCC’s Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River, unless otherwise noted. Register today!
It is estimated that over the next decade, New Jersey will see approximately 20,000 green jobs. To help meet that demand, OCC’s Continuing and Professional Education is offering green technology training for marketable employment opportunities. In addition, courses will be offered for the homeowner and general public to increase their knowledge about this green initiative.
Five new non-credit green courses will be offered this fall.including ones in Solar Energy Systems and Energy Conservation for Homeowners.
The Green Jobcast, episode 10, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said this week that she believes hiring in the alternative energy industry will pick up in the next year, but it will take longer than that for green jobs to become a bigger part of the U.S. job market.
Solis told The Associated Press that new government incentives will kick-start hiring in the fledgling industry as companies regain confidence and find it easier to borrow money.
Quote: “Once you start seeing more investments made in our economy recovering, as we stabilize and we get people back to work, then I think there’ll be more interest in expanding,” Solis said. “There’ll be more, hopefully, credit available for this expansion, because there will be more confidence because that’s what we’re lacking right now — that investment and confidence in the market.”
Prism Solar Technologies will receive $3.6 million in federal funding for them to create a spin-off company focused on developing a new form of photovoltaic technology here in the Hudson Valley.
Prism Solar Technologies, in Highland NY part of Ulster county, is a manufacturing partner of The Solar Energy Consortium and their spin-off company is expected to create around 300 jobs over the next three years as they manufacture and bring to market a flexible solar ribbon cell.
In Maryland, the CUMBERLAND Times News is reporting that a start-up wind company that has recently received federal stimulus funding, could have local people back to work by the holiday season.
John Congedo, president of AC~Wind, , told the Times-News Tuesday that AC~Wind has contracted with Brunswick Corp., parent company of Bayliner, to use its facilities in Cumberland and Salisbury. The two locations have the potential to employ a combined 700 people, Congedo said, with the Mexico Farms location expected to come online first.
The NY times is reporting that New Jersey will soon double their solar power output. PSE&G Solar, a subsidiary of the big New Jersey utility, has received the regulatory go-ahead to add 80 megawatts of solar capacity in its territory by the end of 2013, effectively doubling the amount of solar power in the state. That will maintain New Jersey’s position as the nation’s second-ranked state for solar photovoltaic installations, behind only California.
Of the 80 megawatts, half will be filled by 200,000 panels mounted atop utility poles. Each will provide 200 watts. These solar panels will look like the ones used to power emergency telephones by the sides of interstate highways. The installation will be the world’s largest in terms of pole-mounted solar units, according to the manufacturer, Petra Solar, which is based in New Jersey and will add 100 employees to the 40 working there now.
The Green Jobcast, episode 9, is a short news segment with information about green jobs making headlines across the country. (download mp3) 3 minutes
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Sponsored by Jobs in Solar Power & Jobs in Wind Power.
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First up… the sustainability field is one of the fastest growing green professions. Many organizations such as universities are adding these key roles to help reduce their carbon footprints and save energy. 2 such positions can be found on Jobs in Sustainability dot com…
INVISTA (Kennesaw, Georgia) is seeking a Global Sustainability Director
The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education (New York, New York) Sustainability Educator
Learn more about these jobs at www.jobsinsustainability.com
The NY Times is reporting that Following on the heels of a study from the Pew Charitable Trusts last week, two more reports from environmental groups and research institutes suggest that clean-energy investments have the potential to kick-start the economy and employ millions of workers — particularly those at the lower end of the economic scale.
In a statement accompanying the release of the two reports — one authored jointly by the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute at the UMASS – Amherst; the other by the institute, the green jobs advocacy group Green For All and the Natural Resources Defense Council —assert that a “$150 billion investment in clean energy could create a net increase of 1.7 million American jobs and significantly lower the national unemployment rate.” These job gains would be enough — on their own — to reduce the unemployment rate in today’s economy by about one full percentage point.
America’s largest wind power project is finally moving forward. The Alta Wind Energy Center project, located in California’s windy Tehachapi-Mojave region, is about 100 miles north of urban Los Angeles.
The wind farm is expected to eventually comprise 750 turbines spread over 50 square miles – that’s triple the size of any existing U.S. wind project. Eventually it will feed 3,000 MW of clean power into California’s power grid. The wind farm will supply the annual electrical energy needs of 375,000 to 500,000 American households and will create more than 500 construction jobs and 300 long-term wind related jobs.
Cooler Planet.com is reporting that Vermont is planning new solar energy resources
The Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) announced that a 50-kilowatt photovoltaic array had been approved by state officials to be built in the city of Rutland. The project is also expected to be helpful for local technical students, who will be well-positioned to learn trades that will help land green jobs.
“Combined with a local hydroelectric station, which sits just across the road, the solar project will provide a working classroom for students interested in how energy can be produced through clean, renewable sources,” said CVPS president Bob Young.
The project in Rutland is expected to have 265 photovoltaic panels, each about 3 by 5 feet wide and mounted on 33 arrays. Construction is set to begin this fall. According to CVPS, it is also working to research new biofuel resources as well as other solar sites and was also the first utility in the world to put wind power on the grid in 1941.
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