ACES Act is Passed by House!

In national news, The House of Representatives voted and passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act on June 26, 2009! Also known as ACES, the act hopes to benefit the United States by transitioning the nation to clean energy and by creating jobs needed to rejuvenate the American economy. The bill was only introduced on May 15, 2009 and was very popular because it would allow low-income communities to access quality, clean energy jobs, as well as the training that is required for these green collar jobs. The vote was very close, but it is nonetheless a victory for a cleaner, greener, and sustainable nation. Provisions also include, "a cap-and-trade global warming reduction plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020," among other incentives for grants, green jobs, sustainable opportunities and options.



Reference:

1. American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009." OpenCongress. 2 July 2009. <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2454/show>
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/29/09)

At the beginning of Week 3 the Green Collar Jobs Training Program brainstormed the goals for the week. For the online sustainability crew goals included gaining more web traffic, followers and subscribers. The tentative goals for the offline sustainability crew were to prepare the classroom in Mountain View by harvesting bamboo and koa for the trimming, and to paint the siding. However, the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees go where the work is needed and after the morning collaboration the offline crew ended up the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center to plant more kalo. Workers also had to prep the soil with the same 103010 and chicken manure mix that was used similarly at Moku's farm.

The University of Hawai‘i Hilo Pacific Aquaculture & Coastal Resource Center.

Leroy and Dylan planting kalo.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/26/09)

Just another day in the Green Collar Jobs Training Program office! The online sustainability group spent another day on the Internet blogging, posting images, and editing videos. Meanwhile, the offline crew took a long trip to Pahala in the Ka‘u district. They worked with Mati from Moemoea and picked up corrugated, aluminum roofing. After loading the tin roofing onto the flatbed, they spent the rest of the day driving back to Hilo to distribute the roofing at the Hilo recycling station. Hopefully the corrugated roofing will be put to better use!

Workers loading the corrugate roofing onto the flatbed.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/25/09)

After taking a short lunch break, the offline sustainability group moved to another greenhouse to plant kalo. There the workers tilled the soil and fertilizer mix manually and planted kalo corms into the newly turned ground. When that was done they covered the plant crop with mulch to increase the kalo's chance for successful growth. Trainees also took the time to inspect the kalo that has been previously planted.

The look Green Collar Job Training Program workers will give you
if you talk about not being sustainable!

Trainees manually tilling the soil with pitch forks.

Workers (from left) Riana, Dylan, Dominic, and Leroy spreading mulch.

As if they hadn't done a lot of work that day, the labor group also made a trip to Mountain View to pot more kalo at the Green Collar Technologies property. It was a day full of work and lots of achievements in the world of green collar jobs and sustainability practices and opportunities.

Leroy potting kalo in Mountain View.