Green Jobs Initiatives: Are they really necessary?

Lately, there appears to be a green jobs movement across the country. After all, Barack Obama’s stimulus plan included a provision that was specifically geared to creating more green collar jobs. However, this raises a huge question: are green jobs really needed?

In an economy where there are massive spikes in unemployment, this has caused many to re-evaluate their career paths in new fields, like environmental firms, etc. These positions do not require college, but several years of training, as well as the offers of advancement and competitive salary. Green jobs are great, but the problem is that many of these positions might not have longevity in the future. As more technology continues to evolve, these positions might have a shorter shelf life.

However, these jobs are not the solution to the current unemployment crisis, as it takes a long time to establish these openings and due to the constantly changing environment at large. The fact that the Commonwealth of Virginia is also trying to place a premium focus on creating green jobs, as they believe it will provide more employment options. Right now, the Virginia State Senate is considering Governor Kaine’s plan. This plan would create the following:

• Creating a fund that would extend grants to manufacturers of wind and nuclear power equipment
• Provide an income tax credit for homeowners to install solar power
• Exempting the sales tax for those who buy green energy home systems
• Providing incentives to power companies
• Making sure that all state buildings are built for green energy

I am all for protecting the environment, but we can do this in an economically sensible way. This plan is not allowing options for those who decide not to follow this plan. As for home improvements, making the switch to green energy can cause more green to fall out of your pockets. Many of these green products are quite costly and not proven as effective as the regular energy products.

The green jobs are not created overnight. Meanwhile, many of those unemployed are left wondering where the next pay check will come from and trying to locate jobs in their fields of expertise. Virginia would be wise not to place such a focus on this program, especially since we are in a budget crisis. The Commonwealth can not afford to waste money on this program.