Res. No. 2053

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.8377/S.5640, legislation that would establish a subcommittee on green jobs workforce to conduct labor market data analysis, job training programs, education programs, and to create local green jobs corps.

By Council Members Gennaro, Lappin, Brewer, Fidler, Gonzalez, James, Recchia Jr., Sanders Jr., Vann, Weprin, White Jr., Mark-Viverito, Gerson and Nelson

Whereas, According to the United Nations Environment Program, green jobs can be defined as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development, administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality; and

Whereas, Green jobs include work with renewable energy, new construction jobs for weatherization projects, rehabbing buildings for energy efficiency, the creation of better transit systems and new jobs in manufacturing and service industries re-engineered for a clean energy economy; and

Whereas, The Green Jobs Act, signed by President George W. Bush in December of 2007, established a program to train workers for “green collar jobs,” and authorized 125 million dollars to be used for workforce training programs targeted for veterans, displaced workers, at-risk youth and families in extreme poverty; and

Whereas, In February of 2009, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (AARA), signed into law by President Barack Obama, devoted 500 million dollars of the AARA funds to be used for the training and performance of green jobs; and

Whereas, Increasingly, states are taking it upon themselves to make America more energy efficient; and

Whereas, For instance, the state of Massachusetts passed the Massachusetts Green Jobs Act, which provides grant money to stimulate clean energy companies, to create green jobs and to provide job training programs to encourage access to new green jobs; and

Whereas, New York City has also launched initiatives, such as PlaNYC 2030, that will expand “green collar jobs” citywide by creating opportunities in green collar fields including urban forestry, renewable energy and storm water management; and

Whereas, According to the non-profit charitable organization PEW Charitable Trusts (PEW), in 2007, green jobs represented a fraction of all jobs in the United States, however between 1998 to 2007 green jobs grew by 9.1% compared to a 3.7% growth rate for total jobs; and

Whereas, However, PEW also reported that New York was one of nine states where the number of green jobs declined from 1998 to 2007; and

Whereas, The enactment of A.8377 and S.5640 would create a Green Jobs Workforce subcommittee under the State Workforce Investment Board to coordinate and encourage the development of green jobs in New York State; and

Whereas, The subcommittee would also be responsible for conducting labor market data analysis to help guide the development of new strategies to promote the growth of green industries in New York State; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.8377/S.5640, legislation that would establish a subcommittee on green jobs workforce to conduct labor market data analysis, job training programs, education programs, and to create local green jobs corps.

LS# 7574

6/18/09

MF