$4 BIL FOR NEW ENERGY JOBS

Feds plan $4 billion for green jobs
May 25, 2009 (AP via USA Today)

"Some $4 billion from President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan that was budgeted to renovate public housing will be spent to create so-called "green jobs" by making the dwellings more energy efficient.

"Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan [made the announcement]…at a meeting of Obama's Middle Class Task Force…Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, another task force member, also [announced]… that $500 million from the stimulus is becoming available to train workers for these jobs…[including] $50 million for communities battered by job losses and restructuring in the auto industry…Donovan and Solis also [announced]… their departments are working together to make it easier for public housing residents to find training programs or a green job."

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"The task force…has been working since January to highlight policies and practices to help improve the standard of living of the middle class, an income group that suffered as the economy faltered…The meeting…[outlined] different ways government departments are working together to steer the middle class toward green jobs…defined as related to helping the environment…[They] pay up to 20% more than other jobs, are more likely to be union jobs and are more likely to be held by men, less so by minorities and people who live in cities…These jobs also are ones that cannot be easily transferred overseas.

"Obama has pushed greening the economy — reducing dependence on foreign energy sources, developing domestic alternatives and easing the effects of climate change — as ways to help pull the economy out of its worst downturn since the Great Depression."

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"Donovan said… the investment in public housing will…[improve] the quality of public housing, [reduce] energy costs for residents and the government, and [create] jobs for people who live in the units and in the surrounding community…

"The energy, education and labor secretaries also…[announced] a partnership to help link the unemployed with jobs, training and education opportunities."