We’re throwing down on major legislation in California that will create green jobs and promote an equitable green economy.
We're supporting 3 green jobs bills:
AB 3 (V. Manuel Pérez): The Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative
AB 1404 (De León, V. Manuel Pérez, and Carter): Global Warming Compliance Offsets & Air Quality in California
AB 1394 (Bass): California Workforce Investment Board: Green Collar Jobs
Click here to learn more about these and other green jobs bills we're advocating for.
Contact the Governor
Governor Schwarzenegger has implemented a web-based email system that makes it impossible for us to send your message directly. But it's not hard, just follow these steps:
Step 1. Copy this letter to the Governor:
I strongly support the Green Jobs Package—AB 3, AB 1404 and AB 1394—that will create pathways out of poverty, propel California’s sustainable economic growth, and get people back to work through the generation of green-collar jobs: family-supporting, career-track, vocational, or trade-related employment that directly preserve or enhance our environment!
AB 3 (V. Manuel Pérez), the Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative will coordinate the efforts of the Green Collar Jobs Council to implement and administer workforce training programs for the economy of the future—the green economy. California has the most potential to generate renewable energy in the United States and 33% of its energy must come from renewable sources by the year 2020. Meanwhile, our unemployment rate has reached an alarming rate of 12.2% and our workforce is not prepared to transition us to a renewable energy based system. AB 3 will guide the green economy to expand opportunities for communities disproportionately affected by high unemployment, underemployment, poverty, incarceration and pollution. This Initiative will address how to effectively engage and serve disadvantaged populations: at-risk youth, formerly incarcerated, displaced and incumbent workers, and veterans of past or present military service. Through the creation and development of these green-collar jobs, we will rebuild California’s workforce and environment.
AB 1404 (De León, V. Manuel Pérez, and Carter), the Global Warming Compliance Offsets & Air Quality in California, will simultaneously improve the air quality in California and generate green-collar jobs locally. AB 1404 will limit the use of carbon offsets—credits given to big polluters in exchange of cleaning up the environment—to no more than 10%. California is now considering a 49% use of offsets that will out-source projects that could otherwise create green-collar jobs in California. AB 1404 will not only inhibit this, but it will also require that offsets be used in the air districts that suffer the most from air pollution. Research demonstrates that toxic pollution released by industry disproportionately contaminates the air in neighborhoods where people of color and low-income families live. For example, five of the smoggiest cities in California also have the highest densities of people of color and low-income communities. Through this bill, we will improve California’s air quality and help build a green economy that creates and preserves green-collar jobs in California.
AB 1394 (Bass), California Workforce Investment Board: Green Collar Jobs, will diversify the funding streams for the newly created Green Collar Jobs Council (the Council). This bill will expand the feasibility of the Council, which is a remarkable, inter-agency, and cross-sector entity with great potential. AB 1394 authorizes the California Workforce Investment Board to accept monies from non-profit organizations, NGOs and philanthropic organizations in the form of grants or other revenues, pursuant to the Green Collar Jobs Council’s strategic initiatives. This bill will help California continue on the path to prepare our workforce for the jobs of the future—green-collar jobs.
Step 2: Click here to go to the Governor's website to send the message. Under Choose your subject, you can select "Energy Issues/Concerns"
Step 3: Tell your friends!
Here's a sample letter you can use or you can
share on Facebook or post a link on Twitter.
:
Hello!
I just joined the Ella Baker Center in supporting three green jobs bills that will help create pathways out of poverty in California.
The three bills are:
AB 3 (Perez): The Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative
It'll coordinate the efforts of the Green Jobs Council to implement and administer training for the green economy.
AB 1404 (De León, Pérez, and Carter): The Global Warming Compliance Offsets & Air Quality in California
It'll simultaneously improve the air quality in California while generating locla green jobs. It will limit the use of carbon offsets -- credits given to big polluters in exchange of cleaning up the environment -- to no more than 10%.
AB 1394 (Bass): California Workforce Investment Board: Green Collar Jobs
It'll open diverse funding streams for the Green Collar Jobs Council so
that it may continue to set the strategy for green workforce
development in California!
Please ask Governor Schwarzenegger to sign these bills. Click here to sign on:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/?p=gcjc_green_jobs_package
Thank you!
