Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

GUEST COLUMN:

Measuring state’s ‘green-collar’ jobs

In 2010, the federal government will begin measuring “green-collar” jobs. Signed into law in late December by President Barack Obama, the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding to be used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to work with other federal agencies, including the Labor Department and Environmental Protection Agency, to identify green economic activity and produce data on the associated jobs.

It will take $8 million and at least a year to research and compile the series on green-collar jobs; the first data produced by the initiative are expected to be available in 2012. Data will include employment and wages by industry and occupation for businesses producing green goods and services, with the goal being the development of information on the number of and trend over time in green jobs; the industrial, occupational and geographic distribution of the jobs; and the wages paid to such green-collar workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, policymakers will then use this information when planning policy initiatives and understanding their effect on the labor market.

Despite the popularity of the terms “green” and “green jobs” in discussions about protecting the environment and job creation — and how to get the two to work in tandem — there is no standard definition of jobs that qualify as green-collar. In response to that challenge, the Bureau of Labor Statistics intends to make this determination through an approach that involves identifying activity that either preserves or restores the environment by examining both a business’s output and process, and counting the associated jobs. Green-collar jobs are expected to be identified across a range of industries and occupations, and include jobs that have been around for some time, as well as new jobs. For example, according to a list of green goods and services industries published for public comment by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in early 2010, trades associated with manufacturing or repairing railroad cars, ferries or subways for mass transit are green-collar, as are all solid waste collection jobs. Employment associated with science museums, botanical gardens and nature preserves, as well as any occupation involved in the farming, transporting, selling or serving of U.S. Agriculture Department certified organic food is considered green. In fact, the production or selling of anything organic or recycled is embraced, including organic cigarettes and beer.

In Southern Nevada, the measurement of green-collar jobs has a unique relevance. As a byproduct of existing in a desert as well as with one of, if not the most precarious water supplies in the United States, we have built an economy based on energy conservation (to avoid colossal air-conditioning bills) and water preservation (to avoid running out — and also enormous water bills). Locally, green-collar jobs in abundance include those associated with energy-efficient landscaping, such as desertscape or artificial turf; jobs associated with building with, transporting or selling Energy Star certified or LEED building materials, which is typical in most projects here given the extreme summer temperatures; any job associated with renewable energy, including solar panels or solar cells used to heat pools or generate electricity for homes or buildings; weatherization trades; and occupations associated with any water supply or irrigation system where water is treated. All environmental-related consulting is also considered green-collar.

Recently, plans have been announced for a new solar manufacturing plant by California-based Amonix, as well as a wind turbine manufacturing plant by U.S. Renewable Energy Group, China-based A-Power Energy Generation Systems and American Nevada Company of Henderson, with both plants locating in the Las Vegas Valley. (American Nevada and In Business Las Vegas are both part of The Greenspun Corporation). These facilities will contribute to a growing number of green jobs locally, particularly if the state turns into the renewable energy mecca that many envision.

Given our existing focus on energy conservation, Southern Nevada’s abundance of unlimited solar energy, as well as recently extended tax incentives for renewable energy-related facilities and projects, a predominantly green-collar economy is a real possibility.

If the federal government uses green-collar job data as it promises in making policy that help maintain and encourage such environmentally friendly occupations and industries, this can only mean good things for Nevada.

Alyson Crisman is a certified public accountant and project manager with Applied Analysis

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy