First U.S. new clean energy jobs website launched in California

LOS ANGELES, Sep 09, 2010 -- Xinhua

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of the U.S. State of California launched a new clean energy jobs website on Thursday, the first of its kind in the nation.

The website provides California with resources for jobs in such growing, sustainable industries as renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation, the governor said in a statement.

The website, Clean Energy Jobs, is part of California's Clean Energy Workforce Training Program (CEWTP), the largest state- sponsored green jobs training program in the nation.

"As California's economy becomes increasingly dependent on green technology, the Clean Energy Jobs website highlights how the state' s community colleges and workforce investment boards, labor unions, and employers are working to meet the demand for trained workers," said Schwarzenegger.

"The site is a showcase for the training program in which government and private industry are coming together to make our state a leader in the new, sustainable economy. This program represents the kind of innovative thinking needed to steer our economy toward a greener future, while doing everything possible to help Californians return to work."

Created by the California Energy Commission, the website describes 48 training programs throughout the state that are offered by local workforce investment boards, community colleges, labor and trade organizations, and private industry.

The programs provide hands-on training for such jobs as installing solar panels and wind turbines, maintaining electric vehicles, installing water and energy-saving devices, and researching fuel cell technologies.

Announced by Schwarzenegger in August 2009, the CEWTP leverages public and private money to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative and renewable transportation. The program uses federal stimulus money from the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) , with state, local and private funding, to provide nearly 100 million U.S. dollars to help teach Californians green job skills.

CEWTP is a collaboration of Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Taskforce, the Green Collar Jobs Council, the California Energy Commission, the Employment Development Department, the Employment Training Panel and the California Workforce Investment Board.

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