Effects

• The Green Jobs Act of 2007 established $125 million in funding for job-training programs for green industries. The training programs that the U.S. Department of Labor offers to help green industries grow include building and operating energy efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, energy efficient vehicles and the development of bio and alternative fuel sources. The funding also covers research, so new job skills and positions required for the growth of U.S. energy independence can be identified and job and training standards can be established.
  
  

History

• The Green Jobs Act as part of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act, has among its purposes to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security..." As the need for energy dependence grows in importance to the United States, more green job positions must be created in order for the United States to have the scientists, environmentalists and other green job professionals available to make it happen, supporters of the Green Jobs act indicated.
  
  

Job Creation

• The Hilda Solis Green Jobs Act consists of two parts: creating positions for professionals to evaluate what green jobs need to be filled in order to fulfill the goal of the act and then then creating and filling the job positions that have been determined are needed. The first set of new jobs the act creates is for the researchers and trainers. The researchers will be identifying the green jobs needed. Then the trainers will work on planning and implementing the training programs required to prepare the green job employees with occupational training. Veterans, displaced employees and at-risk young adults are given priority to fill these positions under the new law.
  
  

Supporters

• Besides Solis, numerous organizations and groups were staunch supporters of the bill. Various business groups, labor organizations, environmental groups and civil rights organizations were among the supporters. Specific supporters include the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Sierra Club, Apollo Alliance, National Association of Energy Service Companies, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Public Citizen and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
  
  

Additional Funds

• As part of the Green Jobs Act, an additional $190 million in state energy sector and training grants are being awarded by the federal government to states across the country. The funds from these grants are in support of state energy strategies to build an overall green economy. In addition, these additional funds create jobs and training programs on the state level as well as a federal level.