Green For All’s local business initiatives boost clean energy economy

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It's always inspiring to see technology and innovation being used to develop green and sustainable business solutions that improve people’s lives.

I was reminded of this again a few weeks ago after viewing the world premiere of “Carbon Nation,” a new documentary that delivers uplifting and compelling stories of people and organizations using invention-based solutions to address social, economic and national security issues related to global warming. “Carbon Nation” features over 200 climate change pioneers, including Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute; New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman; former CIA Director James Woolsey; and William K. Reilly, former EPA head.

Among the many interviews and vignettes in “Carbon Nation” is a piece about Van Jones and his Green For All initiative, which improves lives through building a clean energy economy. Here in Oregon, we’ve benefitted from Green For All’s programs through a recent collaboration with local and state government, contractors, the labor movement, civil rights organizations and local faith organizations.

Announced by Mayor Sam Adams, Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jules Kopel Bailey earlier this year, Clean Energy Works Portland is a partnership that uses technology and innovation to drive economic development and address global warming. The collaboration taps Federal stimulus funds to finance and install energy efficient home improvements, like new insulation or high efficiency furnaces and water heaters, with no upfront costs to the homeowners. To help decide which upgrades and financing options make the most sense for participants, a qualified energy advocate guides homeowners through the process. The program aims to scale from its current scope of 500 homeowners to as many as 10,000 homes per year.

In addition to the environmental benefit of improved energy efficiency and the economic benefit of increased home values, Clean Energy Works Portland creates jobs and training opportunities in the green economy. The project’s Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) establishes qualifications and requirements for participating contractors, including ensuring living wages, benefits and training to create career-path employment in Portland and the state.

Specifically, the CWA calls for at least 80 percent of employees to be hired from the region, and 30 percent of the workforce to be historically disadvantaged or underrepresented people—including people of color, women and low-income residents. Similarly, the Portland CWA calls for 20 percent of contracts to go to businesses owned by historically disadvantaged or underrepresented people. By working with local labor organizations, businesses and training facilities, the CWA also establishes a process for setting up qualified training programs and requires that contractors hire 100 percent of their employees from one of these programs until half of the positions have been filled.

The Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute (PNCI) and the Oregon and Southern Idaho Laborers Employers Training Trust (OSILETT) are qualified as Designated Training Programs for Clean Energy Works Portland, and have graduates available for hire.

It’s wonderful to see the adoption of this pilot program throughout a number of sectors and collaborating agencies. It’s also encouraging to see—in our backyard—technology, innovation and environmental efforts finding common ground to build our sustainable economy.

Julia Novy-Hildesley has served as executive director of The Lemelson Foundation since 2002. She is the former director of the World Wildlife Fund's Pacific Office.