Invest in programs through local community colleges, nonprofits and other workforce development organizations to train and establish a local workforce that is focused on renewable energy technologies.
Recognizing that the development of renewable technologies represents a new opportunity for workforce development, the City should partner with local community colleges such as Dallas County Community College, to train and place individuals in this industry. Local community colleges have already initiated sustainability programs including training in renewable energy technologies. The City should assist in building a demand for these careers and support the program, such as through providing work placements on the installation of renewable systems on city property and/or monitoring.
YES...to attract solar firms to Dallas/NTX as this energy sector grows...
what about installing windmills on/near facilities. Some of our roofs can be reserved for Green Roofs-photosynthesis.
There may be an opportunity here to partner an apprenticeship program for renewable energy technologies with City housing programs designed to upgrade residences. Such a program would provide a structured training program and supply qualified llaborers for City contractors. Many contractors complain of losing qualified ttechnicians to higher-paying employers. An apprenticeship could offer an incentive to students to hang around longer to complete their qualification. Contractors could benefit from lower turn-over, schools could benefit from grant-funded tuition, and the City could benefit from documented assistance to low-income students and improved housing stock.
This is an opportunity to radically accelerate adoption of energy saving and generating enhancements, increase skilled employment and grow our community knowledge of sustainability. Mass. created over 116,000 Net new sustainability jobs in the last 9 years, about half of those were skilled workers. We need to coordinate efforts between our schools, building services companies (selling these upgrades and employing these workers) and the city (also with our regional partners). Progress needs to be measured in increased sales of building upgrades by sector (insulation, hvac, gas to electric), jobs added, certifications completed, etc. It should be worked as a circular process (i.e. stimulate a market, increase sales, add jobs, upgrade more buildings, repeat).