A new report by an unusual coalition of environmental and labor groups seeks to plant a seed for a national, $100 billion public and private investment in an environmentally friendly, low-carbon economy that would grow 2 million new jobs over two years.
The report, released today by the Green Jobs for America Campaign, says a combination of tax credits, loan guarantees to small businesses and direct public investment spending could jump-start a clean energy transition that would produce good jobs in civil, environmental, electrical and chemical engineering fields, steel and metal working, heating and air conditioning, the construction trades, and contracting.
In Pennsylvania, the report projects a $4 billion investment that could produce more than 85,000 jobs and reduce unemployment to 4 percent. In July, the state unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent.
"That potential growth for good, family-supporting jobs when the economy is down and we see our manufacturing jobs leaving the country makes it imperative that we take a long, serious look at green investment and green energy solutions for our future and for future generations," said Tony Montana, a spokesman for the United Steelworkers Union, part of the Green Jobs for America Campaign and one of the groups releasing the report.
Full Story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08253/910629-100.stm
