As both the environment and the economy continue to struggle, green jobs prove to be an effective method of dealing with both, especially in certain cities. The Center for American Progress recently released the top five green job cities in the nation.
San Francisco comes in at first place, having been recognized as the number one producer of clean tech jobs by the Clean Edge Report. On Feb. 3, 2010, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the allocation of $19.2 million toward energy efficiency programs, funded through the San Francisco Watch Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Mayor Newsom expressed his commitment to green jobs by stating “San Francisco’s energy-efficiency programs demonstrate how protecting the environment creates jobs and helps businesses and property owners save money.”
Boston was the second highest green job city in the nation. The very first major city in the nation to implement new green zoning requirements, Boston now requires private building construction to follow the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards. Furthermore, the city is the largest municipal buyer of green electricity in the New England region.
Detroit comes in third in the number of green jobs. Despite these high rates, the city continues to suffer environment problems, especially in the Detroit River, which was identified by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency as an area of concern.
Portland had the fourth highest rate of green jobs. Portland was reported by the Clean Edge Report as a leading city in innovative new models for financing clean energy on a city level. Such models usually involve signing legislation which allows “homeowners [ to] borrow the funds necessary to pay for a solar array or an energy efficiency upgrade—then repay the loan (often at below-market rates) over a long-term period through their property tax or utility bill.”
New York City comes in as the fifth city with highest number of green jobs. It also comes in as third on the Clean Edge Report’s list of cities with the highest rate of clean tech jobs. With programs such as Growing Green Jobs, Sustainable South Bronx, and Greening the Ghetto, New York City is a city sure to push forward the green momentum and battle the economic crisis’s adverse effects on American lives.
San Francisco comes in at first place, having been recognized as the number one producer of clean tech jobs by the Clean Edge Report. On Feb. 3, 2010, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the allocation of $19.2 million toward energy efficiency programs, funded through the San Francisco Watch Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Mayor Newsom expressed his commitment to green jobs by stating “San Francisco’s energy-efficiency programs demonstrate how protecting the environment creates jobs and helps businesses and property owners save money.”
Boston was the second highest green job city in the nation. The very first major city in the nation to implement new green zoning requirements, Boston now requires private building construction to follow the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards. Furthermore, the city is the largest municipal buyer of green electricity in the New England region.
Detroit comes in third in the number of green jobs. Despite these high rates, the city continues to suffer environment problems, especially in the Detroit River, which was identified by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency as an area of concern.
Portland had the fourth highest rate of green jobs. Portland was reported by the Clean Edge Report as a leading city in innovative new models for financing clean energy on a city level. Such models usually involve signing legislation which allows “homeowners [ to] borrow the funds necessary to pay for a solar array or an energy efficiency upgrade—then repay the loan (often at below-market rates) over a long-term period through their property tax or utility bill.”
New York City comes in as the fifth city with highest number of green jobs. It also comes in as third on the Clean Edge Report’s list of cities with the highest rate of clean tech jobs. With programs such as Growing Green Jobs, Sustainable South Bronx, and Greening the Ghetto, New York City is a city sure to push forward the green momentum and battle the economic crisis’s adverse effects on American lives.
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