Green Job Training in Broward County

We hope Miami takes a look at the Broward County great program promoting training for green jobs. This is from their website about the OIC Green Training Initiative:

What is Green? What is a “Green” industry or occupation? The term “green,” is widely applied to a substantial variety of products, services, and even lifestyle or consumer choices. The green economy encompasses the economic activity related to reducing the use of fossil fuels, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the efficiency of energy usage, recycling materials, and developing and adopting renewable sources of energy. 1, 2, 3, 4 There are many aspects of work that could be considered green, such as new materials, methods, products, and services. However, we do not yet have a common language capturing the broad and varied nature of green industries and jobs. Several states and many local organizations are working collaboratively to better understand and promote the effects of clean and green technology on our economy.

One of the goals of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 “Recover Act” is to create new jobs and save existing ones. An example of this the Act plans investment in the domestic renewable energy industry and the weatherizing of 75 percent of federal buildings as well as more than one million private homes around the country.
The Green Training Initiative provided by Opportunities Industrials Collaborative of Broward County (OICB) will provide training in the areas of:

* Energy Efficiency
Relates to increasing energy efficiency (broadly defined), making energy demand response more effective, constructing “smart grids,” and other energy efficient activities.

* Renewable Energy Industries
Relates to developing and using energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This sector also includes traditional, non-renewable sources of energy undergoing significant green technological changes (e.g., oil, coal, gas, and nuclear).

The Energy Training Partnership Grant and the Pathways Out of Poverty Grant offers training if the above two areas. Employment opportunities for these grants include:

Energy Training Partnership
Solar Thermal System Designer and Installer
Solar PV System Designer and Installer – Skilled
Solar PV System Installer – Entry Level
Weatherization Technician and Installers
LEED Green Associate Pathways Out Of Poverty
Solar PV System Installer – Entry Level
Weatherization Technician and Installers

These grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.