California Leads Nation in Green Jobs, Study Says - Los Angeles Times.

By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times
July 13, 2011

California continued to lead the nation in the number of people with "green jobs," according to a study that looked at the growing influence of the so-called clean economy.

Nearly 320,000 people in the state work in such jobs as installing solar panels, making electric vehicles and running organic farms, the study by the Brookings Institution found. A little less than one-third, or about 90,000 of those jobs, are in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, it said.

Nationwide, the clean economy — characterized as goods and services with an environmental benefit — employs 2.7 million people. That's more than the fossil fuel industry, the study researchers said.

"No swath of the economy has been more widely celebrated as a source of economic renewal and potential job creation," the report said. For the full article, click here.

Zero-Waste Home. Sunset magazine online showcases a household that produces no waste. Click Here.

Metro Gold Line. For the latest news on the public transit service and extension project, click here.

California's Green Economy Focus of New Report. California’s green economy is the focus of a newly released report by the California State Assembly Select Committee on California’s Green Economy. Click here.

The California Energy Commission is collaborating with the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program, involving state and local partners to develop regional plans for training workers in new green technologies. Click herefor information.

Green Web Resources

Green Workforce Training Programs and Courses in the California Community Colleges. Click herefor the listing by college of all "Green" workforce training and education programs offered at the community colleges

California's Green Economy. A Report Prepared by State of California Employment Development Department Labor Market Information Division. Click here.

California Apprenticeship Council to Require Green Technology Training
Starting next year, all construction apprentices in California will receive instruction on green building practices as a component of their training. The California Apprenticeship Council (CAC) recently approved integration of environmental components into minimum industry training criteria for the building construction trades apprenticeship programs. Click here.

Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Minimum Industry Training Criteria - California Department of Industrial Relations.
The definition of green construction: work practices for on-the-job processes that include recycling and reuse of products, use of technologies, materials and methods that reduce harm to the environment, work that furthers energy efficiency and high performance building and preserves natural resources. These are practices that are experienced in all trades with each having its own technologies that the apprentice will learn for their chosen craft. Click here.

Next 10 - Los Angeles Area Green Jobs Report
With 23 percent of employment and 22 percent of businesses, the Los Angeles Area represents a significant portion of California’s Core Green Economy although less dynamic than other regions. Click Here.

Sustainability at CalTech
Sustainability at Caltech aims to enhance Caltech's core mission of research and education by reducing Caltech's environmental impact and promoting stewardship within the Caltech community. This site describes Caltech’s actions and progress towards creating a sustainable future for our campus and our world. Click here for information.

California Materials Exchange - CalMAX
CalMAX’s mission is to build reuse markets for materials from businesses, organizations, industry, schools, and individuals, and to find markets for nonhazardous materials that may otherwise be discarded. CalMAX is a simple idea: "One business' trash is another business' treasure." Businesses, industry, schools, and nonprofits can use CalMAX to search for available and wanted materials. Click here for information.

California's Growing Green Economy - Maps
Thousands of companies are benefiting from California's leadership on climate change. Many are becoming more sustainable and improving their bottom line. These maps tell the story of companies across California involved in green buildings, energy generation, energy efficiency, transportation and much more. For this Environmental Defense Fund site, click here.

Energy Star Buildings
Search this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency site for a list of facilities that cost less to operate and improve the quality of our environment. Los Angeles has the nation's most energy-efficient buildings among large cities. Click Here.

Clean Energy Newsletter
Read the California Air Resources Board’s summer 2010 Clean Energy Newsletter. It gives you the latest information on how California is helping improve the bottom line for small businesses, grow the economy, generate green jobs and clean our air. Click Here.

Water Conservation
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has just released digital proceedings from their "Recycled Water/Plant/Soil Compatibility Conservation Forum". Anyone with an interest in water conservation and sustainable landscapes will find the design and maintenance implications within these proceedings invaluable. Click Here.

Community Planning Challenge Grant
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Challenge Planning Grant Program will foster reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities. The total grant award is $3 million, and a matching requirement is necessary. Eligibility: State and local governments. Application Closing Date: July 26, 2010.Click Here.

AB 32
A revised version of the California Air Resources Board and California Environmental Protection Agency’s Economic and Allocation Advisory Committee Economic Impacts Subcommittee Report on the Updated AB 32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis is now available. It can be found here.

Green Technology Jobs - Pending Legislation
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) on March 30 joined several executives from California’s solar, clean vehicle, and green technology industries to highlight new laws that will create 20,000 jobs for Californians. They also discussed pending job creation bills that will move through the State Senate in April, measures that will create an additional 30,000 jobs. Click Herefor Agenda 2010 information.

Solar Water Heaters - Incentives
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has established a California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Program to provide incentives to promote the installation of solar water heating systems in new and existing homes and businesses. Click here for information.

California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 20 percent discount on their electric and natural gas bills. Details from the CPUC are here.

CoolCalifornia.org’s partner organizations seek to empower Californians to improve the State’s future and protect its environment. Local Government toolkitand Small Business toolkit.

California Strategic Growth Council is a cabinet-level committee tasked with coordinating the activities of state agencies, including assisting state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals. Click Here.

Helpful Links

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Greening the 21st District in the 21st Century

Carol takes a kayak tour of the Los Angeles River in September 2011.We can all work together to help protect the environment, conserve our precious natural resources, and promote Green initiatives in the 21st Senate District.

PLAN AHEAD

While we all actively work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recent fires, rains, and mudslides have demonstrated how important it is to plan ahead to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This is also called “adaptation” planning. Adaptation planning is very closely related to emergency response and hazards mitigation planning and is an important component of creating sustainable communities and a sustainable economy. See the links below for more information.

California Climate Adaption Strategy.

Hazard Mitigation Web Portal.

LOCAL AND NONPROFIT RESOURCES

Los Angeles River Revitalization. The City has created a "one-stop shop" web portal that encourages users of all ages to learn about the latest events related to its landmark resource: The Los Angeles River. Click Here.

Green for All is a national organization dedicated to building the AB 32 Scoping Plan, which contains the main strategies California will use to reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.Click Here.

CleanTech Manufacturing Center (CTMC). The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles is identifying national and international visionary CleanTech companies and sustainable green manufacturers that are interested in locating to a CRA/LA-owned 20-acre development site in Downtown Los Angeles. Click Here.

California Climate Action Registry is a private non-profit organization originally formed by the State of California. Click Here.

Green Technology is a non-profit initiative designed to inform government efforts toward sustainability, providing a forum in which government officials can communicate with those in the private sector who are developing and distributing green technologies. Click Here.

Metro Gold Line. The proposed extension will continue the Metro Gold Line from its current terminus in East Pasadena through the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair. A trip from Montclair to downtown Pasadena would take a little over 40 minutes and further to Los Angeles would take approximately 75 minutes. It will offer shorter commuting trips, increased energy savings (estimated 1.5 million gallons of gasoline each year) and reduced levels of pollution (estimated 4 tons of carbon monoxide). Click Here for information.

South Coast Air Quality Management District

Funding incentives and opportunities are listed here for air quality improvement programs, diesel vehicle retrofits, natural-gas powered vehicle home refueling systems, and other programs.

Clean LA

Welcome to CleanLA -- a County of Los Angeles portal to a number of award-winning programs that help residents, businesses, and government keep the County clean and sustainable. Click Here for information.

City of Los Angeles - Environmental Programs within the City

EnvironmentLA.org is full of information about projects and programs that are making Los Angeles move towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly City. Together, Angelenos are working towards making LA the Greenest Big City in the nation. Did you know that Los Angeles has 450 bike patrol officers that reduce 12.59 tons of air pollutants and that Los Angeles was the first City in the country to incorporate fuel cell vehicles in its fleet for everyday use? These are just some of the great things that The City of Los Angeles is doing to make our City a model green city. We invite you to explore this website to find out more. Click Here for information.

Green Glendale.

Environmental responsibility requires us all to work together in making our communities, and our planet a better place to live. The City of Glendale is committed to doing our part to promote sustainable living through eco-friendly programs and projects. We also are committed to the betterment of our community through sustainability outreach and education to our residents. Click Here for information.

Going Green - City of Burbank's Sustainability Action Plan.

On January 22, 2008, the Burbank City Council approved a resolution supporting the United National Urban Environmental Accords. The Accords are a series of goals (called "action items") that can be adopted at the local level to achieve urban sustainability, promote healthy economies, advance social equity and protect the world’s ecosystem. Click Here for information.

Pasadena - Green City Report.

Cities around the globe face profound economic challenges that underscore the need to conserve dollars and resources. Saving alone, however, won’t get us back to a healthy economy. In Pasadena, we can look to our Green City Plan for ways to accomplish cost savings while preserving our natural environment and nurturing economic growth. Click here.

STATE RESOURCES

Climate Action Team.

To meet the state's greenhouse gas reduction targets, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-3-05 on 6/1/2005 that directed the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to coordinate with the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency; Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture; Secretary of the Resources Agency; Chairperson of the Air Resources Board; Chairperson of the Energy Commission; and President of the Public Utilities Commission. Click Here for information.

Green California

At the direction of Governor Schwarzenegger, California is leading by example on energy efficiency and conservation, sustainability, green building and green purchasing practices. Through Executive Order S-20-04, known as the "Green Building Initiative," and the accompanying Green Building Action Plan, the governor calls for state buildings to be 20 percent more energy efficient by 2015 and encourages the private sector to do the same. Green California is your gateway to the latest information about how the state of California is working to reduce energy and resource consumption in state buildings, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and creating healthier environments in which to work, live and learn. Click Here for information.

California Air Resources Board: Climate Change. The Air Resources Board has information on main strategies California will use to reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Click Here, and Click Here.

Welcome to the Go Solar California website brought to you by California's Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission. This site provides consumers a "one-stop shop" for information on rebates, tax credits, and incentives for solar energy systems in California. Click Here.

California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. Click Here.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

CalRecycle is the new home of California’s recycling and waste reduction efforts. Officially known as the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, CalRecycle is a new department within the California Natural Resources Agency and administers programs formerly managed by the State’s Integrated Waste Management Board and Division of Recycling. This website is designed for California consumers, businesses, recycling and waste-hauling industries, nonprofit organizations, educational facilities, and others.

Los Angeles skyline

Air Resources Board Local Action for Climate Change Emissions Reduction. Click Here. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) outlines a comprehensive, multi-year program to reduce California's GHG emissions and requires the California Air Resources Board to identify a list of early action items, including a comprehensive framework of regulatory and non-regulatory elements, that will result in significant and effective emission reductions.

The Official Site of California's Proposed High-Speed Train System. By linking all major cities in California with a state-of-the-art new transportation choice, high-speed trains will move people and products across our state like never before. Click Here.

FEDERAL RESOURCES

Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. Click Here.

The U.S. Department of Energy has released detailed guidance for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $3.2 billion in FY2009 for these grants. Eligible local governments, Indian tribes, states and U.S. territories may use grant funds to:

Spur economic growth

Decrease total energy consumption

Create and/or retain jobs

Improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other energy-consuming sectors Click Here

REPORTS

Untapped Potential of Commercial Buildings: Energy Use and Emissions. By Doug Henton and others, Collaborative Economics. (Next 10, San Francisco, California) July 2010. 13 p.

Existing building stock represents the greatest opportunity for capturing the low-hanging fruit for energy efficiency gains. In the average building, upgrading building insulation results in energy savings of 30 percent.... New buildings in California do not reap the energy savings they could. With a minimal two percent increase in construction costs, new buildings can be designed to use one-third to one-half less energy than they use today. Click Here for report.

Union of Concerned Scientists
The Economic Impact of AB 32 on California Small Businesses

Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, established California’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, requiring the state’s emissions to return to 1990 levels by 2020, a reduction of approximately 12.5% from current levels and 40% from business-as-usual in 2020. The economic impact of this requirement is of obvious policy and practical significance to all Californians. As a result, AB 32 has been the subject of a tremendous amount of ongoing analysis, controversy, and some confusion. Click Here for information.

Legislative Analyst's Office

AB 32 (Núñez), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 - Analysis. Summarizes the basic provisions of AB 32 and its planned implementation through the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) Scoping Plan (SP), discuss the avenues by which the SP would potentially affect California jobs, and present the jobs-related effects of the SP as estimated by CARB. Click Here.

Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Local Economies. By Rosalind H. Bark. (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, Massachusetts) October 2009.

Climate change impacts will range from increased risk of droughts, floods and wildfires, landscape level vegetation change, exacerbation of the heat island effect and ozone non-attainment, to changes in river flows and reservoir storage. Click Herefor the report.

Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments. By Hannah Muller, U.S. Department of Energy, and Sarah Truitt, SENTECH, Inc. (The Department, Washington, DC) July 2009. 152 p.

This comprehensive resource will assist local governments and stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. The guide introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully field tested in cities around the country. Click Herefor the document.

Residential Recycling - Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Recycling is easy to do, especially if you follow these handy tips. Remember, when you recycle, you help save valuable natural resources, reduce waste in landfills, and help create jobs.
Los Angeles County Materials Exchange Post Goods. Find Goods. Feel Good.
Other Materials Exchanges in California LACoMAX is a free service designed to help residents, businesses, institutions, and organizations in Los Angeles County find markets for their industrial by-products, surplus materials, and other discards. LACoMAX encourages individuals, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations in the County of Los Angeles to post their available materials and to find needed materials over the Web.
CalMAX - California Materials Exchange CalMAX published quarterly catalogs from 1992-2005; however, in an effort to reduce the use of paper and streamline the administrative process, CalMAX made the decision to publish the last catalog in the summer of 2005 and operate exclusively as an online exchange service.
Agenda 2010 These job creation measures are part of the Senate Democrats’ jobs agenda known as Agenda 2010. Agenda 2010 includes a total of 27 bills designed to create 140,000 jobs for Californians. The Agenda 2010 measures already approved by the Legislature received overwhelming bipartisan support partly because they achieve their goal of creating jobs without raising taxes and without rolling back environmental, consumer, or worker protection laws.
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District - Water Fest 2010 (October 16)