| On Tuesday, President Obama outlined his new | | | | exposure, etc.) towards a green future. A |
| strategy for job stimulus in the U.S. One of the | | | | government investment in solar, wind, and energy |
| central cogs of his strategy is to generate green | | | | efficient buildings, would also serve to reduce |
| jobs through building environmentally friendly | | | | emissions while creating new jobs. |
| infrastructure as well as providing citizens the | | | | - Green Regulation Although big business is in a |
| incentive to become more energy-efficient. It seems | | | | constant battle against green regulation, continued |
| a timely coincidence that the President's green job | | | | environmental benchmarks from agencies like the |
| push comes in sync with the ongoing International | | | | EPA may be what it takes to get this country in the |
| Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. | | | | 'green swing of things.' Although this would at first |
| I'd like to break down some highlights from the | | | | slow growth in big business sectors like agriculture, it |
| speech that mark direct actions for creating green | | | | would eventually lead to more green innovation and |
| jobs, as well as make some additional points on how | | | | hiring. |
| we can meld the worlds of hiring and environmental | | | | - Small Business Growth Small business growth was |
| conservation. | | | | one of the highlights of Obama's job stimulus |
| - Incentive for Energy Efficiency: Obama hit on a | | | | proposal, citing the Troubled Asset Relief Program to |
| new proposal to provide tax rebates to citizens who | | | | ramp up lending to small businesses across the |
| are more energy efficient. A current portion of the | | | | country. Small Business and startup operations have |
| Waxman-Markey energy bill, titled 'cash for caulkers,' | | | | been catalysts for green innovation for some time, |
| would provide $20 billion dollars over two years for | | | | and will continue to push the boundaries in clean |
| people to retrofit their homes to be more energy | | | | energy technology. |
| efficient. This proposal would create numerous green | | | | - Green Hiring Given the stimulus that businesses are |
| jobs (up to 850,000), save close to 3.3 billion dollars in | | | | to receive to move into the green sector: what is |
| energy bills per year, as well as reduce global pollution | | | | the most efficient use of the funding? Of course, |
| through eco-friendly homes. | | | | hiring the right talent will be integral for small and large |
| - Green Infrastructure California currently leads the | | | | businesses to make the most out of the stimulus. |
| U.S in green hiring, spending and infrastructure, | | | | Green jobs sounds great in theory, but without the |
| however other states like Colorado are quickly | | | | resources for applicant tracking and recruiting, |
| gaining in specific sectors like Wind and Solar. Obama's | | | | companies can be left behind. It is important that we |
| proposal continues to push other states that have | | | | not only create more green jobs, but that businesses |
| environmental specialties (due to climate, altitude, sun | | | | have the ability to efficiently hire the proper talent. |