Organized labor helps push for sustainable energy practices.
"According to a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, solar power appeals to union leaders as a 'green' cause in two ways: it is good for the environment, and it's also good for getting greenback dollars for members. Based in Dorchester in Boston, MA, Local 103...will begin offering a 35-hour class in photovoltaic panel installation to 150 or more apprentices in its standard five-year training program. The 6,000-member local's class, one of the first of its kind in the country, is expected to rapidly increase the number of people in eastern Massachusetts qualified to install solar electric power systems and boost solar installation expertise and interest among conventional electrical contractors. By expanding the pool of electricians who know PV [photovoltaic technology], they are removing an important bottleneck to getting systems installed and helping to reduce installation costs. Also, by making PV part of their training curriculum, Local 103 is helping to move PV into the mainstream....In recent years, Local 103 has added several new elements to its five-year training program, including classes in asbestos removal and environmental-hazard remediation, to increase the work opportunites for electricians."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Solar power surge
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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