Get this book, “The Green Collar Economy” by Van Jones and meet me in the park at noon. The Hawai`i Green Jobs Revolution is now!

I’m putting ”The Green Collar Economy” by Van Jones down just long enough to write this post. The Foreward hints at one of the many opportunities a Green Collar Economy might present in Hawai`i,

The United States has far greater domestic energy resources than Iceland or Sweden. We sit atop the second-largest fund of geothermal resources in the world.

The Introduction identifies a green collar problem we’re already experiencing,

One big problem is simply that green employers can’t find enough trained, green-collar workers to do all the jobs.

The book appears in stark contrast to the State Workforce Development Council’s 2008 report to the Governor. I’m sure the real answer is somewhere in between but Van Jones outlines several of our economic issues before they were at the levels we’re expericing now. The State Workforce Development Council’s 2008 report seems to hint at passing problems rather than identifying the much larger issues. Nothing against the council. As an outsider, I don’t even know who they are but something seems to be in need of re-evaluation.

This book will offer many perception shifts. From a Green Jobs perspective, it’s really nice to read,

And don’t think of green-collar workers as only laboring in the energy sector. Though the need for a clean-energy revolution will be the main driver in revamping the economy, we will also need welltrained, well-paid workers in a range of green industries: materials reuse and recycling, water management, local and organic food production, mass transportation, and more.

Although I believe the digital economy will continue to lead us for some time towards self sustainability in a global economy. I’d like to also read, “The Green Collar Technology Worker, How s/he are building a friction economy.” Maybe that book is already being written? Nah, it’s probably just a blog somewhere. Anyway, around here, we have an affinity for this greener economy and I’m so stoked to read the following quote,

The time has come for the nation to give greater support to the problem solvers—the clean-energy producers, green builders, eco-entrepreneurs, community educators, green-collar workers, and green consumers.

Does this mean a Green Economy or Green Collar Jobs are on the way to Hawai`i Island?

To answer that you just have to ask yourself, “Do you want a Greener Hawai`i?” If you do, it will be and If it is to be, it will require work.

Future Green Collar Workers will want to read this book. There will probably be a Green Jobs test in the future. Or maybe tomorrow.

Also read:

Hawaii gained 4158 tech jobs in 5 years, report says