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Hundreds Of Jobs To Be Created Across Capital Region Under Governor Paterson's Green Jobs Bill
Incentives Available for Workers, Businesses and Homeowners to Become Part of Region’s Green Innovation Economy
Green workers installing solar panels
October 30, 2009 - The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the State Department of Labor, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) brought attention to the Green Jobs/Green New York Act by hosting events in Albany County and Broome County. These events highlighted New York State’s plans to create green jobs and stimulate investment in weatherization and energy efficiency improvements for residential and commercial buildings in the Capital Region, the Southern Tier, and across the state.
Governor David A. Paterson recently signed the act into law -- which targets the creation of hundreds of jobs across the state -- to help prepare New Yorkers to secure jobs in the 21st century clean energy economy. State Officials also announced at an event in Watervliet that OTDA had approved funding of $300,000 for Albany County, $236,833 for Schenectady County, and $237,548 for Broome County to launch new Green Jobs Corps programs, helping prepare workers for careers in this emerging field.
Kristin Proud, Deputy Secretary for Human Services, Technology and Operations, who is currently overseeing OTDA, said “We share Governor Paterson’s commitment to helping New Yorkers thrive in this New Economy and are continuing to do all we can to help those who are struggling to improve their chances of getting a job and developing skills that will allow them to advance in the workforce to higher-paying jobs. By preparing workers for careers in these green-collar jobs, we are allowing them to better compete while getting them on a path toward self-sufficiency.”
State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith said, “Governor Paterson’s Green Energy Bill will stimulate job creation and retention, support workforce development and advance pathways out of poverty. We want this state to be a place that attracts and retains the best and the brightest talent, and the potential on all fronts with green is limitless.”
Francis J. Murray, President and CEO of NYSERDA, said, “Expanding our workforce is a major focus in Governor Paterson’s ambitious energy agenda. The Green Jobs/Green New York Act will enable the State to offer vital job training in a field that continues to grow with the advances of, and demands for, new clean-energy technologies and services. The development of a strong, green workforce that will be trained to embrace the demand for energy efficiency and renewable energy services will benefit businesses and residents looking to reduce their energy costs throughout New York State.”
The Green Jobs Corps funding will allow the Albany County, Schenectady County, and Broome County Departments of Social Services to provide job skills training and subsidized employment opportunities in “green industries” for public assistance recipients and low-income individuals. Participants in the Green Jobs Corps program will develop occupational skills that will enable them to get jobs in addition to supporting their ability to remain employed and advance their careers.
To help connect job seekers with opportunities the State has launched a new web site to assist those seeking to enter the new green job sector. The site – www.greencareersny.com – is designed to make it easy for individuals, businesses and workforce professionals to find the State’s local training programs and green job opportunities.
The Green Jobs/Green New York Act directs NYSERDA to establish revolving loan and green jobs training programs to retrofit homes to conserve energy. Loans will be capped at $13,000 for residential and $26,000 for commercial properties. The program will target middle-class homeowners and small businesses that will pay back the loan out of what they save on their energy bills. The job training component will focus on new entrants to the workforce and displaced workers. The job training component, which will be implemented primarily by community-based organizations selected through a competitive procurement process, will focus on new entrants to the workforce and displaced workers.
To fund the weatherization loan program and establish the statewide green jobs training program, NYSERDA will use a portion of $112 million from the auction of carbon emission credits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The Green Jobs bill will allow the State to increase its existing and successful weatherization efforts that are already underway. The Weatherization Assistance Program will eventually administer $394 million in funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). By the end of this month, $190 million in 64 contracts, representing every county in New York, will be executed as part of the program. Under the program, a minimum of 45,000 residential units will be weatherized in New York State. In addition, this effort will expand on NYSERDA’s successful Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.