Green Manufacturing Retooling Projects 2.5 Million New Jobs

Green manufacturing retooling projects 2.5 million new jobs(Via Environmental Leader)A multi-state advertising and advocacy campaign calling for federal

investments in “green” manufacturing is about to kick off.If the nation can transition to 25 percent of U.S. electricity generation

to renewables, it would result in 2.5 million jobs in related industries,

the campaign states.The Apollo Alliance, a national coalition of business, labor, environmental

and community leader, just released its Green Manufacturing Action Plan.According to a press release, the plan calls for:Direct federal funding for clean energy manufacturers to retool facilities

and retrain workers to develop, produce and commercialize clean energy

technologies.Tying federal support to manufacturers’ ability to meet labor

and “Made in America” content standards.Federal support to streamline the

clean energy components supply chain to make American producers more

competitive.Increased federal Green Jobs Act funding to enable the American

workforce to meet the demands of a clean energy economy.Creation of a

Presidential Task Force on Clean Energy Manufacturing to coordinate the

federal government’s efforts and increase our international competitiveness.The alliance says that the U.S. market for solarpanels, windturbines, fuel

cells, biomassengines and combined heat/powersystems will reach $226

billion by 2016.It projects that up to 80 percent of related jobs will be in the

manufacturing sector, and the alliance wants those jobs to stay in the

United States.While creating products that are good for the environment may be good for

the nation’s economy, the actual manufacture of such items may not be so

“green” in the end.A recent study of the energy use in 20 major manufacturing processes,

conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reveals that

modern manufacturing methods are inefficient in their use of energy and

materials.Still, companies like Boeing, Coca-Cola and General Mills say cleaner,

safer and more energy-efficient manufacturing practices are a necessity

during economic downturns, according to a new white paper released by

Rockwell Automation.“Perspectives on Sustainable Production: Delivering Economic Value and

Serving Greater Good” (PDF), features viewpoints from sustainability

executives at Rockwell Automation and its customers.For the very latest in renewable energy jobs please click here