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Green Jobs and the Role of the University

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Title: Green Jobs and the Role of the University


1
Green Jobs and the Role of the University
  • Margaret Brennan-Tonetta
  • New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Director, Economic Development
  • December 10, 2008
  • New Jersey Technology Council

2
Green Jobs Potential National
  • The U.S. Conference of Mayors released a report
    in early October that finds the U.S. economy
    currently generates more then 750,000 green jobs,
    while over the next 30 years, an emphasis on
    clean energy could cause that number to grow
    five-fold, to more than 4.2 million jobs.
  • Engineering, legal, research, and consulting jobs
    currently dominate the green jobs in the United
    States and could grow by 1.4 million by 2038,
    while renewable electricity production will
    create 1.23 million jobs, alternative
    transportation fuels will add 1.5 million jobs,
    and building retrofits will create another 81,000
    jobs.

3
Green Jobs Potential New Jersey
  • The 33 billion of investment into the NJ energy
    infrastructure stemming from the 2008 EMP is
    estimated to result in the creation of over
    20,000 jobs between now and 2020. At peak
    creation, approximately 8,300 will come from
    installation and construction jobs another 7,400
    in operations and maintenance jobs and over 4,000
    in ancillary jobs.
  • These jobs include Solar manufacturing Energy
    audit contractors HVAC installers Smart grid
    technology installations, and many more.

4
Shade of Green Will Determine Ultimate
Number of Jobs Created
  • Technological and policy choices offer varying
    degrees of environmental benefits and different
    types of green employment.
  • Pollution prevention has different implications
    than pollution control, as does climate
    mitigation compared with adaptation, new
    efficient buildings vs retrofits, or public
    transit versus fuel-efficient automobiles.
  • These choices suggest that there are shades of
    green in employment some are more far-reaching
    and transformational than others.
  • Greater efficiency in the use of energy, water,
    and materials is a core objective. The critical
    question is where to draw the line between
    efficient and inefficient practices.
  • A low threshold will define a greater number of
    jobs as green, but may yield an illusion of
    progress in this emerging labor market.
  • Given technological progress and the urgent need
    for improvement, the dividing line between
    efficient and inefficient must rise over time.

5
Green Jobs- Whats Your Definition?
  • UNEP defines green jobs as positions in
    agriculture, manufacturing, construction,
    installation, and maintenance, as well as
    scientific and technical, administrative, and
    service-related activities, that contribute
    substantially to preserving or restoring
    environmental quality.
  • According to the UNEP definition, green jobs also
    need to be good jobs that meet longstanding
    demands and goals of the labor movement, i.e.,
    adequate wages, safe working conditions, and
    worker rights, including the right to organize
    labor unions.
  • Many believe that a green economy is an economy
    that values nature and people, and creates
    decent, well-paying jobs.

6
Sustainability Standards for Bioenergy
  • New Jersey Definition Generally, green collar
    jobs involve environmentally friendly products
    and services or businesses and organizations that
    concern themselves with improving the
    environment. (2008 NJ EMP)

7
Green Jobs Act of 2007
  • The Green Jobs Act Title X of the Energy
    Independence and Security Act, authorized at 125
    million per year in grants for an Energy
    Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training
    Program as an amendment to the Workforce
    Investment Act.
  • It establishes an energy efficiency and
    renewable energy worker training program that
    targets certain persons (including individuals in
    need of updated training related to the energy
    efficiency and renewable energy industries,
    veterans, unemployed workers, and at-risk youth)
    and sectors of the energy efficiency and
    renewable energy industries
  • Green Jobs Act of 2008
  • Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to
    institutions of higher education for
    sustainability workforce training and education
    in industries and practices, such as (1)
    alternative energy (2) green construction,
    retrofitting, and design (3) green chemistry,
    nanotechnology, or technology (4) water and
    energy conservation (5) recycling and waste
    reduction and (6) sustainable agricultural and
    culinary practices. 100mm per year!

8
Role of University as a Catalyst for Economic
Growth of Green Industry
  • Academic institutions can and do play a
    significant role
  • University as Trainer supply of skilled
    graduates
  • University as Innovator generation and transfer
    of knowledge
  • University as Partner provides technical
    expertise to commercialize product licensing
    activities sponsored research
  • University as a Regional Talent Magnet attracts
    talented, innovative entrepreneurs and
    professionals
  • University as Facilitator facilitate networking
    between public/private sector research parks,
    incubator programs
  • To be effective, universities must actively
    choose to engage in economic development
    activities, particularly as they relate to the
    green industry.

9
Need for a Well-Trained Workforce
  • Transition to a green economy will create demand
    for skilled workers and filling these positions
    will require adequate training programs.
  • Many of these positions will be at the cutting
    edge of technology development, and
    specialization has progressed to the point where
    universities need to consider offering entirely
    new study fields and majors.
  • Several countries have reported that a skills
    gap already exists between available workers and
    the needs of green industries
  • A 2007 survey of Germanys renewables industry
    concludes that companies in this field are
    suffering from a shortage of qualified employees,
    and especially those needed in knowledge-intensive
    positions.
  • The Confederation of British Industry has
    expressed concern that sectors going green are
    struggling to find technical specialists,
    designers, engineers, and electricians.
  • In the US, the National Renewable Energy
    Laboratory identified a shortage of skills and
    training as a leading barrier to renewable energy
    and energy-efficiency growth.
  • Along with the skills gap will be a management
    challenge, requiring development of new
    perspectives, awareness, and managerial
    capacities.

10
Role of University Trainer
  • Clearly if America is to rise to the global
    energy challenge, and capture the economic
    opportunity it represents, we need to adequately
    prepare our students.
  • New Jersey boasts world-class educational
    institutions where students can learn valuable
    skills that prepare them to enter all levels of
    the workforce.
  • Vocational schools, community colleges, 4-year
    universities and graduate schools all offer
    excellent programs to individuals looking to
    learn about and advance in the green economy.
  • Surveys have shown that employers of the new
    green workforce are going to be looking for
    educational preparation in math, science, and
    technology, in addition to good problem solving
    skills and hands-on training.

11
Role of University Innovator
  • Partnerships between the public and private
    sectors and universities are critical to success
    of economic growth strategies.
  • SBA Office of Advocacy Study
  • University RD expenditures directly related to
    level of new innovations.
  • University RD expenditures are significantly
    related to new firm formation in their region.
  • University RD spending is associated with higher
    levels of human capital.
  • Research university investments in RD are major
    factors contributing to economic growth in the
    regions in which they are located.

12
Role of University Technology Transfer
  • Universities are a major source of
    entrepreneurial and technology-based economic
    growth.
  •   This research provides the pipeline for
    technology transfer and entrepreneurial
    activities including patenting, licensing, and
    launching of start-up enterprises.
  • Since 1980, universities have established
    more than 5,000 new companies, the majority of
    which are still operating

13
Role of University Facilitator of
Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation
  • The new green economy is going to offer a
    significant opportunity for innovative thinkers
    and entrepreneurs.
  • From 1980-2001, the entire growth in net U.S.
    jobs was attributable to young firms (less than
    five years old).
  • High-growth entrepreneurial firms usually pursue
    the commercialization of an innovative new
    process, product or service.
  • An SBA study observed that, Innovation without
    entrepreneurship generally yields minimal local
    economic impactInnovations are highly portable,
    whereas entrepreneurship is people/place-based.
    Its typically the entrepreneur that converts
    innovation into economic development.
  • Source Council on Competitiveness 2007

14
Role of University Facilitator of
Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation
  • Need to leverage knowledge assets to foster
    entrepreneurial mindsets
  • Engage universities so that they act as a
    catalyst for business cluster and regional
    economic development, and serve as economic
    magnets to attract investment, entrepreneurs and
    talent to a region.
  • Identify and implement best practices for
    efficient and business-oriented technology
    transfer at all state universities.
  • Create incentive for universities to restructure
    their research capabilities to be responsive to
    local industries, setting up specialized research
    units, joint cooperative ventures and
    interdisciplinary projects.
  • Create new sector-specific programs at the high
    school, college, and continuing education level
    that encourage people to enter and be successful
    in the green job market.
  • Source Council on Competitiveness 2007

15
Rutgers Energy Institute
  • The Rutgers Energy Institute (REI)
    integrates Rutgers expertise in science,
    engineering, economics, and policy, putting it at
    the forefront of alternative energy research.
    Innovative research and technological advances
    form the basis of the green jobs sector.
  • Research - Integrate basic research and
    real-world application to advance energy
    technologies that address biofuels, solar and
    wind energy, efficient energy use, and energy
    policy
  • Education - Train the next generation of leaders
    in energy research through multidisciplinary
    graduate and undergraduate programs that blend
    science, technology, economics, and policy
  • Outreach - Facilitating colloquia, workshops and
    seminars that stimulate interdisciplinary
    conversations on energy research and
    technologies, exploring energy topics most
    relevant to the Rutgers community, local
    businesses, homeowners, and politicians
  • REI.Rutgers.edu

16
Rutgers Energy Research Programs
  • BiofuelsReducing the need for fossil fuels
    exploring ways to use biological materials to
    produce energy for heat, electric power, and
    transportation Optimizing energy yields from
    commercial crops, like corn and soy, through
    innovative genetic techniques Developing
    cost-e?ective technologies with minimal impact to
    the environment
  • Solar EnergyAlternative electricity improving
    technologies that convert solar energy to
    electricity Advancing the fundamental optical
    and electronic science required to produce solar
    cells Cultivating cost-e?cient technologies that
    convert solar energy to hydrogenan important
    renewable fuel.
  • Wind PowerClean, Renewable Energy focusing
    research on wind energy technology as an
    alternative to burning coal or oil Improving our
    wind prediction capabilities along the New Jersey
    coastline through collaborations with the state
    of New Jersey and PSEG Implementing a
    ground-breaking program that utilizes real-time
    data to collect and distribute wind energy at
    strategically located sites.
  • Green Building/Ef?cient Energy Use - Advancing
    the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial
    processes, and transportation in New Jersey
    Merging fundamental research in materials science
    and technology with practical building
    applications Putting theory into practice with
    building improvements for homeowners - such as
    energy-saving techniques and equipment, healthier
    indoor air-quality systems, building material
    reuse, and solid waste reduction.

17
Research Centers
  • Center for Advanced Energy Systems
  • Center for Advanced Infrastructure and
    Transportation
  • Center for Energy, Economics, and Environmental
    Policy
  • Center for Green Building
  • Climate Environmental Change Initiative
  • EcoComplex
  • Institute for Advanced Material Devices
  • Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
  • Laboratory for Surface Modification
  • New Jersey Sustainable State Institute
  • Rutgers Initiative on Climate and Social Policy
  • Waksman Institute of Microbiology

18
Rutgers Curriculum for Building the Green Industry
  • Rutgers University offers courses that explore
    the science, engineering, and policy of energy.
    Science courses are offered within the School of
    Environmental and Biological Sciences,
    engineering courses are offered within the School
    of Engineering, and policy courses are offered
    within the Bloustein School of Planning and
    Public Policy.
  • Over 100 energy-related and green undergraduate
    and graduate courses are offered at Rutgers.
  • Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional
    Education provides a multitude of industry
    specific training opportunities and
    certifications.

19
Conclusion
  • Universities play a significant role in
    development of the green economy and green jobs
    by
  • Providing a well-educated, highly skilled work
    force
  • Engaging in cutting edge, innovative research
  • Fostering technology/innovation transfer to
    industry
  • Developing effective public private partnerships
  • Launching start-up enterprises through incubators
    and entrepreneurial support programs
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