Comment

Comment by Tina Noel on May 13, 2009 at 10:21am

Following up on Sarah's post earlier this month -- it's getting down to the wire for America's Clean Energy and Security Act. He's not mentioned in the article below (which gives a good -- if long -- summary of where the federal bill stands), but Indiana Congressman Baron Hill is among the Democrats who still need to be persuaded to vote for ACES, which will mean new green jobs for Indiana. If you would like to tell him how you feel about the bill, or just about addressing climate change and growing green jobs, in general, call his office in DC and share your opinions!

Dems edge closer to climate bill deal
By: Lisa Lerer and Patrick O'Connor
May 12, 2009 09:15 PM EST

After months of negotiations, weeks of congressional testimony and an
official White House meeting, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce
Committee inched slightly closer to cutting a deal on climate change
legislation Tuesday - even as some of their most pernicious members
continued to raise objections.

Democrats on the committee resolved several key issues in an hour-long,
closed-door meeting, including setting a renewable electricity standard
and carving out special protections for utilities and
fossil-fuel-intensive industries that would see the biggest cost
increases under the new cap and trade program.

Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, (D-Calif.) said he will release a bill on
Thursday, with a mark-up planned for Monday. He expects to meet his
self-imposed deadline and pass a bill out of committee by the Memorial
Day recess.

"I believe we will have the votes for passage of this bill next week,"
said Waxman.

Still, several of the most demanding Democrats on the committee said
things were far from finished.

"I'm not prepared to characterize things at the moment as being
resolved," said Rep. Rich Boucher, (D-Va.). "Nothing is agreed until
everything is agreed."

Boucher, who represents a coal-producing district, has played a lead
role in discussions between Waxman and concerned Democrats from
Midwestern and Southern states.

Negotiations are still ongoing with Democrats from oil-producing states,
who are holding out for greater protections for oil and gas refiners.
Texas Rep. Gene Green and a group of industry representatives will meet
with Waxman Wednesday, along with a handful of other swing voters on the
committee, including Texas Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, Louisiana Rep. Charlie
Melancon and Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross.

North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield was reluctant to sign-off on
anything until he gets more details about how the revenue raised by the
bill will be used.

And Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak said he's reserving judgment until he sees
the final language of the bill.

"I don't see it in writing, do you?" he said. "It's not a done deal
until it's in writing."

Democrats compromised on 2020 emission targets, agreeing to a 17 percent
cut from 2005. Waxman wanted a 20 percent cut, and President Barack
Obama's budget suggested a 14 percent cut over the same period. The bill
will still reduce emissions by 83 percent by 2050, said Waxman.

Utilities, trade-sensitive industries and automobile manufactures will
get a percentage of the valuable pollution allowances for free as a way
to offset costs caused by the new regulations. Thirty-five percent of
the emissions credits will be given to the local distribution companies
that service the electric utility industry. Industries considered
particularly vulnerable to foreign competition -- such as aluminum,
steel, and paper -- will get 15 percent of the allocations starting in
2014. Their free portion will decrease by 2 percent annually. Petroleum
refiners also will get a small percentage.

Waxman also lowered his goals for the renewable electricity standard.
His original proposal required 25 percent of the country's energy to
come from wind, solar and biomass by 2025, with 5 percent coming from
instituting more energy efficiency technology.


The compromise target is 20 percent by 2020, with 5 percent from
efficiency. If a governor indicates that a state cannot meet the
standard, it can increase the proportion of efficiency measures by 3
percent.

Nuclear power, however, will not be counted as a renewable fuel, a fact
that could make it harder for southerners, such as Democratic Whip James
Clyburn, to support the measure.

After Waxman moves the bill through his committee, the Ways and Means
Committee and other panels with jurisdiction will get to take a crack.
But those committees won't have much leeway to make drastic changes
after it leaves Energy and Commerce.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters Tuesday morning that he
expects the legislation on the floor next month, after the Memorial Day
recess. He dismissed suggestions that the Senate had opted to move
separate energy and climate-change measures, saying both chambers would
eventually work with a single bill. But he was open to moving a package
of incentives for car owners to trade in their gas guzzlers for newer,
more efficient models on another bill, if the climate-change measure
stalls.

Asked if he had assurances from leadership to move the bill on the floor
if he gets it out of committee, Waxman said simply, "Yes."

Democratic pollster Mark Mellman briefed House Democrats Tuesday night
on the politics of climate-change, urging them to shy away from poorly
polling terms like "cap and trade" and "green jobs."

A Rasmussen poll released on Monday found that just 24 percent of voters
correctly identified the cap and trade proposal as dealing with
environmental issues. Slightly more -- 29 percent -- thought the term
was about regulating Wall Street, and 17 percent thought it had to do
with health care reform. Thirty percent had no idea.

Comment by Ernest Rando on May 13, 2009 at 8:45am

Thanks for the feed back, the problem with demonstrating my coding "portfolio" is the most of it has been in the design of code or in an assisting manner, I do not want to give wrong impressions, but very good imput on that note, TY. The more I look over the resume I begin to find something inherently flawed in online resumes. This is a general resume not really focused to a specific employer, so it is lacking detail like a portfolio and behavioral based examples of the application of knowledge. Now maybe that is because of my skill sets and focus being so broad, but for future reference for anyone else that may want to do the same thing keep that in mind.

I guess my next step is look again at the GJ website, thanks again all. :)
www.twitter.com/greenerdog

Comment by Cary Allen Fields on May 12, 2009 at 9:15am

Here are several links from Tom Probasco at the Central Library here in Indianapolis:
http://apolloalliance.org/
http://apolloalliance.org/what%e2%80%99s-new/apollo-can-help-you-find-a-green-collar-job/
http://www.greencollarblog.org/green-job-boards.html

Comment by Greg Silcox on May 12, 2009 at 9:01am

Ernest - I do not do anything thing different with the electronic copy of my resume that gets posted. What type of work are you looking for? Have you seen any jobs in Indiana on the GreenJobs website?

Comment by Cary Allen Fields on May 12, 2009 at 8:32am

Might find find these links helpful, folks.
http://apolloalliance.org
http://apolloalliance.org/what%e2%80%99s-new/apollo-can-help-you-find-a-green-collar-job/#more-821
http://www.greencollarblog.org/green-job-boards.html

Comment by Ernest Rando on May 11, 2009 at 9:48pm

So I got to thinking that I would post my online resume http://ernestrando.blogspot.com and toss out a question to the public. "Are the standards for Online Resumes different than the ones for Paper Resumes? And if so what is the difference?" I am just curious to hear peoples thoughts in the hopes that it may help any of us out there that are looking for work or looking to transition into "greener" work. Feel free to pick apart my resume and point out any flaws.

Comment by Legal Environmenal Aid Foundation (LEAF) of Indiana, Inc. on May 4, 2009 at 6:28pm

Northwest Green Drinks to discuss Green Jobs tomorrow!

Greetings Green Drinkers,

Don't miss Green Drinks this Tuesday, May 5th from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at Don Quijote's, 119 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN; phone: 219-462-7976; on the web at www.donquijoterestaurant-in.com.

Featured topic: Green Jobs in Indiana
A bright spot in the current economy is the prospect of green jobs to replace lost jobs through transition to a more sustainable, reduced carbon future.


Dave Ellis, member of the Midwest Renewable Energy Assoc., American Solar Energy Society, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter and Dunelands Group Executive Committees, and Board of the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehab Center will discuss the potential for green job growth in Indiana.

$5.00 entry donation ($2 students)

____________________________________________

What is Green Drinks? The first Tuesday of every month, people who work or are interested in environmental issues meet up at informal gatherings known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. It's a great way to meet with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network. These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. All are welcome at Green Drinks to socialize, network and learn!
____________________________________________

A look ahead to June 2nd Green Drinks at:

Isabella Bean Cafe,9 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383; phone 219-242-8085; on the web at http://www.myspace.com/isabellabeancafe


Topic: On-Line Networking for Environmental Professionals & Activists

A Greener Indiana.com is a new on-line network and support system for organizations, businesses, and citizens seeking "a greener Indiana." Organizational founders. Derek Reuter, will introduce the site's concept, agenda and offerings. Eric Stallsmith will demonstrate how to harness the Internet and use A Greener Indiana to accomplish communications and networking goals through an in-depth tour of the site.

Comment by Sarah Batto on May 2, 2009 at 4:42pm

woohoo! This is great!

If you're interested in national legislation...
Since the IN legislature is almost over, there isn't much environmental state legislation we can support. But, there's a national act being discussed called the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) that is the most progressive climate change and green energy/green jobs legislation proposed so far. As it is written at the moment, it would cap the amount of CO2 companies can pollute (which would discourage polluting fuels and encourage clean energy = more green jobs nationally). It has a lot of other good stuff, like requiring 25% of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025, requiring the US to reduce it's CO2 levels to 83% below 2005 levels by 2050, establishing more energy efficiency in transportation & government buildings, establishing a smart grid and better transmission of electricity, etc. It also funds "clean coal" technology and research, which I do not support, but we are not going off coal in IN very soon. But, if you're interested you can write your national representative and senators to support the act or renewable energy in general. I am happy to give you more info or letter-writing tips/talking points, etc. Unfortunately, this is not even a bill yet, so I don't know how much support it has. It is being heard in environmental subcommittees during the next week.

You can read an abstract of the bill here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090331/acesa_summary.pdf

Here is the best schedule I know for the act: http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1560

Comment by Mitsy on May 2, 2009 at 3:44pm

Nice group, wonderful website, an amazing organization!

Comment by Cary Allen Fields on May 2, 2009 at 1:36pm

Hi All, posting this link on a few of the message boards and blogs here in Indy, I'll give it an on-air mention on The Fields Of Bluegrass Radio Hour and THE FREE ZONE, too.

Keep up the good work brothers and sisters!
C. Allen Fields
http://fieldsofbluegrass.com
http://indianapolissongwriterscafe.com/caryfields

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