Broward County Green Workforce Innovation Project Timothy McWhirter, Ph. D. Program Director

Green Workforce Innovation Project  What is the nature of the project?  What are green Jobs?  Why are they important?  Where are they? Where will they be?  How can we encourage their development?

The Green Workforce Innovation Project  Objective  Investigate how we can encourage the development of a green economy by:  locating where green jobs are likely to be  Looking for training, incentive and financing programs that will foster their development.  Sponsors  Citi Foundation  Broward College  Broward College Foundation  Broward Alliance  Workforce One

What are Green Jobs?  (PEW) Jobs associated with:  clean energy production  increasing energy efficiency  reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution  conserving water and other natural resources  Training and support

Are all jobs turning Green?  Energy efficiency can be a part of many jobs.  Paperless Accountants  Most jobs should be getting greener  Your competitors are  Interface—random design carpet tiles (entropy).  No imperfections, no wasted tiles, reduced installation costs.

Examples of Exclusively Green Jobs  Clean energy production  Photovoltaic System Installer and Designer  Increasing energy efficiency  Hybrid Automobile Mechanic  Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution  Technician at waste to energy plant  Conserving water and other natural resources  Sustainability Director

Why are Green Jobs Important?  Stability  States across the country have adopted Renewable Energy Standards, Mandates, or Goals requiring utility companies to produce a percentage of their power from renewable resources.  These standards will create green jobs.

National Renewable Energy Standard of 25% by 2025 would Generate Job Growth

Why are Green Jobs Important?

Where are the green jobs?  Broward County Targeted Industries Study  DCG Corplan Consulting LLC  Over 500 companies interviewed  This study was intended to assess the opportunities for recruiting desired new industries to Broward County that will create high skilled / high wage jobs consistent with the area’s overall economic development strategy.

Where are the green jobs?  Broward County Targeted Industries Study  Biomass  “Enterprise Florida, Inc. establishes as essential to preserve state’s status in the Innovation Economy.”  Photovoltaics  “Are prevalent and have great potential for the south Florida market area.”  Green Construction  Weatherization (Minority Builders, OIC, PACE)  Green Transportation  Hybrid automobile maintenance (Broward College & GM).

Where are the Green Jobs?

Green Jobs in Broward County  Biomass  Using grasses and municipal and agricultural waste to generate electric power.  Wheelabrator Plants (  Technicians ($37,000-$67,000)  Engineers ($80,000-$90,000)  County and state are planning to increase use of these plants.

Green Jobs in Broward County Solar Energy Resources U.S. by Florida Solar Energy Center

Green Jobs in Broward County  Minority Builders Association received over $3 million to work with Advanced Green Technologies ( to train (OIC $1 million):  Solar Thermal System Designer/Installer (avg. $46,000)  Solar PV Designer/Installer (avg. $48,000)  Weatherization (avg. $30,000)

Green Jobs in Broward County  Green Automobile Technician ($41,000)  Hybrids  Converting diesel vehicles to Biodiesel

Green Jobs in Broward County  Aging Workforce in Utility Industry  Below average turnover.  High % of baby boomers.  Renewable Energy Standards are forcing utilities toward renewable energy.  $57,000 Meter Technician

Green Jobs in Broward County  Green IT  Networking the Grid  FPL Smart Meter Program in Broward (100,000 meters)  Paperless Processes  Cloud Computing  Google Apps Google Apps  IT Engineer $80,000-$90,000

Green Jobs in Broward County: Summary  Biomass--Plant Engineer, Mechanic, Technician.  Photovoltaic System Designer/Installer  Weatherization and Green Construction  Hybrid Automobile Mechanic  Utility Technician  IT Engineer

Encouraging the Growth of Green Economy  Solar American Cities report focuses on three areas:  Training  Provide training for those interested in green jobs.  Outreach  Communicate to the community the value and importance of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and waste management.  Some cities have placed installations in visible areas.  Incentives  Innovative financing programs to increase demand.  PACE financing.  Rebates.  Feed in tariffs.

Encouraging the Growth of Green Economy  Biomass  Training  Broward College will explore training opportunities for Wheelabrator.  Outreach  State and county governments are primary customers and Wheelabrator focuses on outreach.  More can clearly be done about recycling more generally.  Incentives  State and the county are both planning on increasing the amount of waste sent to waste to energy plants.

Encouraging the Growth of Green Economy  Photovoltaics  Training  Minority Builders Association and the OIC of Broward County have received over $4 million for training.  Outreach  Broward College Solar Campus project.  Incentives  PACE financing  Public Buildings

PACE Financing  Property Assessed Clean Energy financing.  Financing district sells bonds to cover cost of energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy installations.  Paid back through property taxes.  Financing stays with home if sold.  Advantages  Removes upfront cost  Provides freedom to move  Can be cash positive day one  Reduce and stabilize energy costs  Increased construction 8.4% in Sonoma  Political Agreement!  NY legislation passes  FL legislation on the way.

Green Jobs Broward County: Future Gulf Stream

Green Jobs Broward County: Future  Water Turbines  FAU Center for Ocean Energy Technology  Received $1.2 million Federal Grant

Living in the 21 st Century: Our Green Job  Slow Food  Eco-driving  Sustainable Consumption

Broward County Green Workforce Innovation Project Timothy McWhirter, Ph. D., Program Director