GreenCareerCentral

Green Career Trends: Interior Department to Make BLM Land Available for Solar Farms, New Technology for Solar Cells, Grow Algae in Muncipal Wastewater

The federal government, through the Department of the Interior, is proposing to allow solar farms on 670,000 acres of public land and divide the land into 24 energy zones to speed up development. The zones, located in  Arizona, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, are under the control of the Bureau of Land Management.  When fully developed, the total acreage could be home to solar farms generating 100 gigawatts of electricity.  Maps of the areas are viewable here.

By taking an unusual approach, EPIR Technologies may have found a way to almost double the efficiency of solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.  Rather than using cadmium and telluride as thin film, this company is using the same layering process and placing it on silicon. Tests indicate that this new combination dramatically increases efficiency.

While there are several teams working on the idea of biofuels from algae, a University of Minnesota team is working with Minneapolis' wastewater treatment facility to use sludge, a free, non food source in constant supply to grow algae at a fast rate.  They are also working on ways to separate the algae from the oil that it produces in a cost efficient way.  The process could also clean the wastewater before it released back into a river.

Green Career Tip - Update and Next Steps: American Energy and Climate Act

This week, on Friday, June 26th, the American Clean Energy & Security Act was passed by the House of Representatives.

Some are calling it a historic vote on climate change policy, while others are appalled with the quality of the bill.

Read or listen to this Tip of the Week to see the pros, cons, and next steps in this legislation.

Follow the Green Money: DOE to Award $3.9 Billion, GE Will Spend $100 Million for New Michigan Facility, Sear Tower Getting Retrofitting

The Department of Energy has announced $3.9 billion in grants to develop and improve the electrical grid.  The grants will be awarded to companies that help get renewable energy onto the grid as well as increasing reliability and effectiveness while reducing environmental impact.  The DOE will also disperse a total of $554 million to Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Illinois, New York, California, New Hampshire and North Carolina for energy efficiency, renewable energy and to expand weatherization projects. 

Corporate giant General Electric announced a new $100 million  facility in Michigan that will advance manufacturing technologies including new composites, casting and coating of the company's aviation and energy units.  According to GE, as many as 1,100 people may be employed at the site over the next few years.  Michigan will also be the home to a $9.9 million research and development facility operated by Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Hybrid subsidiary.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is undergoing a $350 million green renovation to reduce its carbon emissions and water usage.  A Net Zero hotel will also be constructed next door as part of the project. 

Contact your Congressional Representatives About Upcoming Climate Legislation

The vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act is expected on Friday.  Contact your congressional representatives and urge them to pass this important piece of legislation.

Although a number of groups would like to see a stronger version of this bill, many other groups believe that moving this bill forward is the right decision at this time. (For a description of the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, read our recent Green Career Tip of the Week.)

If you'd like to understand the impact of this bill, check out these documents on the Committee of Energy and Commerce's site. 

• Explore the Fact Sheet on the Economy and Jobs.
• Understand the Industry Claims regarding the costs of the Clean Air Act that was passed in 1970.  
• Read the EPA's Assessment of the bill. 
• And more

Companies, investors, and local governments are ready to act, but before they will be willing to invest precious funds to the green economy they must understand what the rules of the road are.

If you want a job in the green economy, contact your representative and ask them to pass this bill. You can write to your representatives here or use the drop down menu to find your representatives' phone number.Share your thoughts about this important bill that will become an important cornerstone of the green economy.

If the bill passes in the House, the Senate will offer their version. If you'd like to refresh your memory about how a bill becomes law, read this straightforward description of the legislative process.

7 Steps to Your Green Career - A F.R.E.E Teleclass

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern

Is the process of matching your skills and experience to the needs of companies in the green economy taking you TOO LONG? Do you have an organized, well thought out, step-by-step plan to achieve your goal or does it feel like ‘hit and miss’?

For nearly 20 years, our Founder, Carol McClelland, has been guiding people into careers that match their skills, interests, experience, and education. In helping thousands of people switch to more fulfilling careers, Carol has developed a step-by-step process that shortens the time it takes, eliminates the uncertainty inherent in the process, and keeps you moving forward to your goal.

Now she’s sharing this 7-step process with those who are trying to find the best way for them to enter the green economy.

In this teleclass you’ll discover:

• How to shorten the path to your green career with our 7-Step Action Plan.
  
• Tips to smooth out your journey.
  
• Ways to modify the plan to meet your immediate goal.
  
• Answers to your questions about your next steps.

To Register: Click on the register link below and provide us with your name and email address so that we may send you all the details and the dial-in information for the call.

REGISTER HERE

Feel free to share with friends and colleagues you feel would benefit from the information of this teleclasses. If you have any questions, please contact Susan at susan@greencareercentral.com.

We look forward to your joining us!

Green Career Tip - An Innovative Way to Explore Your Target Green Industry

Looking for an entertaining and educational way to explore your target green industry and interests?

Look no further than your cable television. You may be amazed at the topics covered on some specialty channels.

Check out the list of shows we find interesting and useful to those with a bent toward creating a more sustainable presence on our planet.

Read or listen to this week's tip and see how you can learn from your T.V.

Follow the Green Money: SoCal Edison Approved to Build 250 Solar Megawatts, Optimum Energy Raises $4.5 Million, T. Boone PIckens Invests in New Auto Manufacturer

State of California regulators have given the go ahead to Southern California Edison to install 250 megawatts of solar power on large industrial building rooftops.  The regulators also approved another 250 megawatts to be installed by independent solar companies.  When completed, these projects could serve as many as 500,000 homes. 

Optimum Energy (based in Seattle) has raised $4.5 million in venture capital to expand sales and engineering of its technology that reduces the power used by heating, air conditioning and ventilation in commercial size buildings. 

T. Boone Pickens along with other venture capitalists is investing in a new auto manufacturer, V-Vehicle.  The company claims the car will be high quality, environmentally friendly and fuel efficient.  The car will be built at a former auto lamp factory in Louisiana.

Green Career Trends: Two More Companies Build Solar Parts, Effects of Low Natural Gas Prices, Map of State by State Green Job Growth

Two Taiwanese companies are moving from computer components manufacturing into solar panels and components.  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has plans to make solar cells and LED lights while Powercom will branch out and build solar panels, polysilicon, and solar cells as well as continuing to build inverters for solar panels.  How quickly these companies bring their products to market could have an impact on prices.  If there is an abundant supply of panels, will prices drop?  If so, how low will they go?  Will home owners that have been waiting for prices to drop, take action and thereby spur demand?  Will coal fired utilities begin to purchase more solar projects in order to meet state requirements for renewable energy? 

Recent reduced demand for electricity, combined with abundant new supplies is dropping the price of natural gas from a high of $13 per million BTU last summer to $4 per million BTU currently.  This low price is now competing with cheaper coal.  Natural gas is cheaper to transport and burns more efficiently and has fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal making it more attractive to utilities that are keeping an eye on coming carbon emission regulations.  There is still the overriding question, will natural gas prices continue to remain low, or will they spike like oil prices?  The benefit of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, is once they are built and paid for, the fuel is free. 

A new report from the Center for American Progress describes how many green jobs will be created in each state with private and government stimulus spending.  Most of the funding would come from the private sector, with some government spending on incentives, subsidies and regulations to give direction and motivation to the private sector.

Green Career Tip - You Are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring

Looking for inspiration?

Paul Hawken, environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author, spoke to the 2009 graduating class of the University of Portland. His words were poignant, insightful, and inspiring.

Whether you are graduating with a new degree this month or you are ready to graduate from the business-as-usual economy...

read, or listen to, this commencement address and be inspired.

Follow the Green Money: $300 Million More From DOE for Vehicles, Solar Projects, Carbon Capture; Solazyme Raises $57 Million; Supercapacitors Market Expected to Grow

The Department of Energy announced $300 million more in funding for high efficiency vehicles, solar projects and carbon capture and storage technologies.  Of the $300 million, up to $240 million will go to the development of efficient commercial and passenger vehicles, 24 new solar projects will each be eligible for up to $22million and $11.3 million will go to 9 pre-combustion carbon capture technologies.

Biofuel maker, Solazyme, has garned $57million in financing to continue its research and development of algae based biofuels for cars and jet planes as well as expanding into the cosmetic and food markets. Solazyme is based in South San Francisco, CA.

According to a Lux Research, the demand for supercapacitors will increase from $208 million in 2008 to $877 million in 2014.  Consumer electronics such as cell phones and digital cameras and large energy storage applications such as wind turbines and electric cars are expected to be the drivers in the increase in demand.