NCCET Webinar - Understanding the Green Economy: A Community College Perspective on What are “Green Collar Jobs”

Understanding The Green Economy:A Community College Perspective on What are “Green Collar Jobs”

NCCET WebinarJanuary 7, 2010 2:00 – 3:00 EST

Real-time Data to Advance Community Colleges

Today’s Presentation

About the Centers of Excellence

Understanding the Green Economy

Energy Efficiency StudyWind Energy Study

Q & A

Centers of Excellence MissionThe Centers of Excellence, in partnership with business and industry, deliver regional workforce research customized for community college decision making and resource development.

• San Francisco Bay• Greater Silicon

Valley• Los Angeles County

(2)• Orange County• Inland Empire• San Diego &

Imperial• Central Valley• South Central• Far North &

Greater Sacramento

Where are the COE located?

What is Environmental Scanning?The systematic collection of information that

can help colleges …•choose opportunities to follow,•determine how to allocate resources, and•build strategic partnerships.

This includes looking at both supply (training programs) and demand (industry workforce needs)

Why Environmental Scanning?•Assist community colleges to identify

opportunities and trends in the areas of economic and workforce development.

•Help colleges increase responsiveness by having better information for decision-making.– Should our college add courses or a new

program? Should our college reduce courses, modify or retire an older program?

– Do area colleges already offer this program? Is there a need for more training in our region?

Environmental Scanning Approach• Identification of emerging and

high-demand industries and occupations

• Research • Qualification• Industry validation of results• College offerings and gap

analysis• Recommendations to close

gaps• Partnerships

Examples of Content• Demographics (student and

population)• Economic indicators• Industry/occupation overviews• Employers (size and scope)• Labor market projections and wage

data• Skills and training requirements• Existing college programs/initiatives• Other programs/models/curriculum• Associations serving the industry• GIS maps/analysis

Our Tools

• Over 85 different public databases

• Environmental Modeling Systems, Inc. (EMSI)

• Private business data (Info USA)

• ESRI Business Analyst (customized)

• Industry validation of results• State curriculum inventory





Q & A

Understanding The Green Economy

BackgroundPublic Policy Driving Green Job

Growth• California’s Global Warming Solutions

Actof 2006

• American Recovery & Reinvestment Actof 2009 (ARRA)

The Challenge• Ambiguous definitions of the green

economy with varying scopes and purpose.

• Phase I: Provide a research-based framework to assist Community College administrators and faculty in studying what “green” is in terms of industries, occupations, and educational programs.

• Phase II: Collecting primary data to qualify existing and future labor market opportunities in green sectors. Identify possible gaps between demand and supply of prepared workforce.

Green Study Research Objectives

Phase I Methodology• Secondary literature review and analysis

Some of the reports:– Green Jobs Guidebook (Environmental Defense

Fund)– Clean Technology and Green Economy

(Collaborative Economics)– Jobs in LA’s Green Technology Sector (Milken

Institute)• Executive interviews with industry

experts• Coding the information using national

classification systems– North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS)– Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

• Review of the draft by industry experts

Some of the Experts:

Bill Buratto, VCEDAGreg Freeman,

LAEDCLMID Industry and

Occupational Specialists

Greg Newhouse, ATTEi

Tim O’Connor, EDFLinda Parker, Kern

Wind Energy Association

GreenFirm

Green Job

Operational DefinitionsA Green Firm is an organization that provides products and/or services that are aimed at utilizing resources more efficiently, providing renewable sources of energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, or otherwise minimizing environmental impact.

A Green Job is an occupation that 1) directly works with policies, information, materials, and/or technologies that contribute to minimizing environmental impact, and 2) requires specialized knowledge, skills, training, or experience in these areas.

Required

Green Skill

3 Types of Green JobsSome jobs Require an additional Green Skill necessary for continued employment within a traditional occupation. May require a revision of existing curriculum.

Green Skill

Upgrade

NewGreen

Job

Receiving an additional, but not critical, Green Skill Upgrade makes traditional workers more marketable. Consider new certificates or fee-based training.

New skills transition a worker into a completely New Green Job with a new title. New programs need to be developed for these emerging jobs.

Green Industry Clusters

Green Industry FrameworkExample: Renewable Energy Area/SectorGreen Economy area/sector

Industry Sector (2-digit NAICS) NAICS Description [notes]

221111 Hydroelectric Power Generation221119 Other Electric Power Generation221121 Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control221122 Electric Power Distribution221330 Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply237130 Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction238160 Roofing Contractors238210 Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors238220 Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors325000 Chemical Manufacturing333295 Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing [Machines to manufacture solar

panels.]333611 Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units334413 Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing [Solar panel and fuel

cell manufacturing.]334512 Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing335911 Storage Battery Manufacturing

Renewable Energy: Energy Generation, System Installation & Storage

California's Green Economy - Industry Overview

22 – Utilities

23 – Construction

31-33 – Manufacturing

Green Jobs FrameworkExample: Renewable Energy Area/Sector

Green Economy area/sector Green Industry Clusters Emerging Green Occupations Occupations with SOC Code

Solar power & PV systems: Engineers (including civil and electrical engineers*):Solar systems engineers 17-2041 Chemical Engineers

Wind energy power Solar systems engineering technicians 17-2051 Civil EngineersSolar manufacturing technicians 17-2071 Electrical Engineers

Hydro-electric power Solar sales estimators 17-2072 Electronics EngineersSolar thermoelectric plant managers 17-2081 Environmental engineers

Geothermal power Solar systems designers 17-2112 Industrial EngineersSolar commercial installation engineers 17-2131 Materials engineers

Smart grid Solar installation electricians 17-2141 Mechanical engineersSolar installation electrician foremen Mapping technicians (17-3031.02)

Hydrogen power Solar thermal system installers Technicians/Electrical technicians:Solar PV installers (Proposed SOC: 49-9022 Solar panel installers and repairers)

17-3023 Electrical & electronics engineering technicians

Solar thermal & photovoltaic (PV) systems

Renewable Energy: Energy Generation, System Installation & Storage

Transportation Example

Next Steps• Phase II: Qualify labor market

opportunities by geography. Identify possible gaps between supply and demand.– Advanced Transportation– Smart Grid Technology– Water Efficiency– Geothermal– Biomass/Biofuels

• Foster strategic partnerships to support and strengthen research.

Online at: www.coeccc.net/green





Q & A

Energy Efficiency Occupations Research Objectives• Identify and survey the firms across

California that hire energy efficiency workers in technical occupations

• Identify the projected job growth for these occupations & the workforce needs and challenges of employers.

• Identify college programs related to energy efficiency occupations.

Research Partners

Industry Partners

Research & Industry Partners

• Public or Private Utilities or Agencies

• Building Design and Construction

• Building/Facility Operations & Maintenance

Three industries are most likely to be connected to energy efficiency occupations:

Energy Efficiency Sector

Public or Private

Utilities or Agencies

Building Designand

Construction

Building or Facility

Operations and Maintenance

Occupations StudiedCompliance Analyst or Energy Regulation SpecialistResource Conservation or Energy Efficiency ManagerEnergy Auditor or Home Energy RaterConstruction or Design Project ManagerBuilding Performance or Retrofitting SpecialistHVAC Technician, Installer or Mechanic

Building Controls Systems TechnicianBuilding Operator or Engineer

Occupational Employment& GrowthCombined, the estimated growth of the eight

occupations:• Over the next 3 years could result in as many as

37,000 new jobs for the California economy.– 8,400 construction/design project managers– 7,600 building performance or retrofitting

specialists

Workforce Challenges

(1) (2)

(3) (4)

(5)(6)

(7)

(8)

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

50% 60% 70% 80%

3-ye

ar G

rowt

h

Difficulty Hiring

(1) Building operators or building engineers(2) Project managers for construction or design work(3) HVAC mechanics, technicians or installers(4) Resource conservation or energy efficiency managers(5) Compliance analysts or energy regulation specialists(6) Building controls systems technicians(7) Energy auditors or home energy raters(8) Building performance or retrofitting specialists

(1) Building operators or building engineers

(2) Project managers for construction or design work

(3) HVAC mechanics, technicians or installers

(4) Resource conservation or energy efficiency managers

(5) Compliance analysts or energy regulation specialists

(6) Building controls systems technicians

(7) Energy auditors or home energy rates

(8) Building performance or retrofitting specialists

Education and TrainingEmployers are interested in the community colleges providing education and training programs:•on-site customized training for current employees – 72% interest (34% great interest)•Associate degree program in resource & conservation management – 72% interest (31% great interest)•student internship programs– 68% interest (22% great interest)

College Programs Survey

• College Program Selection Criteria• Colleges with Related Programs

Opportunity to Develop ProgramsExample: Bay Area Colleges• Currently no programs for:

– Energy Auditor/Home Energy Rater– Compliance Analyst/Energy Regulation

Specialist– Resource Conservation/Energy Efficiency

Manager• Currently only one program for:

– Building Performance Retrofitting Specialist

Online at: www.coeccc.net/energy





Q & A

Wind Scan Research Objectives

• Collect data to qualify labor market opportunities in California wind industry

• Identify workforce needs andchallenges of wind employers

• Identify possible gaps betweendemand and supply of skilled workforce

California Wind ResourcesWind farms in California are located in 5 distinct regions.

Wind Turbine Technicians:Traditional vs. New Skill Requirements

Traditional• good physical condition for ladder climbing and

occasional heavy lifting;• ability to work comfortably at heights up to 350

feet; safety certification;• experience using hand and power tools;• meteorology and basic math;• basic engineering skills;• electrical; mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical

maintenance repair and troubleshooting experience.

Wind Turbine Technicians:Traditional vs. New Skill Requirements

New• understanding advances in technologies and

turbine designs, computer software and computer diagnostic systems;

• testing equipment, and schematics;• technicians should be knowledgeable in

mechanics, hydraulics (these systems control the pitch of the blade);

• electricity (technicians need to understand control systems, and how power is generated and connected to the power grid.

Employment Projections

• Wind Turbine Technicians can be calculated per:– Megawatt: 10-20 Wind Technicians needed

per 100 Megawatts– Turbine: 1 technician per 15 turbines

• California’s future wind industry will require anywhere between 200 – 877 technicians in total (not annually), depending upon a number of variables identified in the full report.

Wind Technician Wages

• Entry level wind energy technicians earn wages from $15 to $25 per hour.

• Some firms indicate they advance workers quickly into supervisory/team leader positions paying more than $60,000 per year for workers with only 3 years experience.

• Experienced technicians, those traveling with overtime, and most supervisors can earn as much as $120,000 annually.

Workforce Needs & Challenges

• Employers offered many suggestions on how community colleges can assist in providing a skilled workforce for the wind industry:– Develop curriculum with high schools that

teaches conservation and renewable energy;

– Train more engineers and engineering technicians;

– Offer job readiness and work maturity skill training to workers.

National Growth in Wind Turbine Technician Programs2004: 1 program nationally

(Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC))2005: 2 programs nationally

(ILCC & Minnesota West Community College)2006: 4 programs nationally2007: 7 programs nationally2008: 12 programs nationally (only 10 with enrolled students)2009: 24+ programs nationally

College Programs

College Response

Barriers to program development may include:

• Access to working turbines• Support from Industry Partners• Quality instructors with wind industry or

related experience• Financial requirements in purchasing,

operating, and maintaining the necessary equipment

Community College Proximity to Wind Farms

Community College Proximity to Wind Farms

Wind Scan RecommendationsWhich colleges in the California

Community College system should offer wind courses or programs? The three main criteria to consider are:

1) is the college close to where wind farms are located,

2) is there labor market demand for wind technicians within their service area, and

3) does the college have related programs to build upon for training wind technicians.

Wind Scan Recommendations (cont.)If a college determines that a wind turbine

technician program is warranted, two options for responding should be considered:•Deliver the 208 hour CA Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy (ATTE) wind technician curriculum in a Contract Education format. •Build wind programs leveraged off of an industrial technology program such as mechatronics, mechanical engineering, hydraulics, electronics, electricity, automotive, and aviation.

Online at: www.coeccc.net/wind

Related Studies of InterestCompleted

– Aerospace Occupations– Carpenters– Energy Efficiency– Green Building– HVAC

In Progress– Alternative Fuels– Bio-Energy– Environmental Technology– Geospatial – Health Information Technology– Information & Communications

Technologies (ICT)

– Solar Industry (residential)– Utilities Industry– Water Efficiency (green

plumbing)– Wind Energy

– LEED Certification– Renewable Energies– Smart Grid Technology– Water/Wastewater– Workforce Readiness





Q & A

Thank You!Elaine GaertnerStatewide [email protected] FlemingDirector, Inland Empire [email protected] Marquez Director, Central Valley [email protected]

www.coeccc.net

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.coeccc.net/