California Officials Create Web Site For Green Jobs

California energy officials have created a Websiteeconomy grows in this time of deficit budgets,
devoted to green jobs.penny-pinching and fighting over California's
The site describes 48 training programs that arelandmark greenhouse gases law, but colleges and
offered by workforce investment boards,high schools are moving forward. At West Hills
community colleges, labor and trade organizationsCommunity College in Coalinga, students learned
and private industry. There are links to workshopsto install solar panels, with 70 of them finding
and to industry and employment reports. Peoplework on a 40-acre solar farm in Mendota, on the
also can can register to receive e-mail alerts onwest side of Fresno County.
items related to green energy.High schools also are getting into the act.
Worldwide, about 2.3 million people are employedBuchanan High School in Clovis is debuting an
directly or indirectly in renewable energy,energy academy this year. It exposes students
according to the independent researchto renewable energy and features wind turbines,
Worldwatch Institute. In California, the figure issolar panels, floor heating and water storage from
about 433,000 workers, or 3.4% of the laborrain runoff to irrigate a rooftop garden.
force.Edison High School in Fresno, New Energy
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believesAcademy in Stockton and Independence High
green-energy jobs will grow, and the newSchool in Bakersfield are developing
Website is part of what he says is the largestrenewable-energy programs in cooperation with
state-sponsored green jobs training program inPacific Gas & Electric.
the nation."Green energy is a growing field that is critical to
"The (Website) is a showcase for the trainingturn the tide on climate change. I am excited that
program in which government and privateCalifornia students in these programs will be
industry are coming together to make our state alearning about technologies that can help the entire
leader in the new, sustainable economy," he said.planet," said State Superintendent of Education
It remains to be seen how fast the greenJack O'Connell.