As the immediate effects of the BP oil spill begin to fade, the long term effects are still be determined. The cleanup will continue to generate new jobs in the Gulf Region for months (if not years) to come. However, the oil spill wasn’t the only news in the green economy - read on:

• New efforts on a renewable electricity standard: Some clean energy and climate advocates have shifted their sights to a scaled-back but still ambitious goal: passage of a national renewable electricity standard. Such a law would require utility companies to produce a set amount of electricity from renewable sources by a certain date, spurring the development of clean sources like wind and solar and probably lowering overall emissions nationally. Such a standard would drive additional employment in the wind and solar sectors.
• Wind farm ‘mega-project’ underway in Mojave Desert: the project is officially breaking ground in the Tehachapi Pass, a burgeoning hot spot for wind energy about 75 miles north of Los Angeles. When completed, Alta could produce three times as much energy as the country’s largest existing wind farm, analysts said. It’s slated to be done in the next decade and will create hundreds of construction and maintenance jobs.
• New Stirling engine solar heating and power system in Colorado: Cool Energy, of Boulder, Colorado, a developer of clean energy heat and power generating systems, today announced that Xcel Energy will be providing research and analytical support for the first planned pilot field installation of the SolarFlowÆ System in a commercial building located in Boulder, Colorado.
• Xtreme Power raises cash for renewable-energy storage: Xtreme Power, an Austin, Texas company which is commercializing battery technology originally developed for electric vehicles, is expected to announce on Tuesday that it has raised nearly $30 million to expand into utility energy storage.

The summer is finally here, with heat drenching much of the nation. Green job news keeps popping up - which is a good thing!

• The Parking Lot as ‘Solar Grove’: Envision Solar builds  “solar groves,” 1,000-square-foot canopies that shade parking lots while generating clean power from an array of photovoltaic panels.The company is now branching out into electric car generation by outfitting its solar canopies with charging stations for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.
• Green homes combine solar and energy efficiency: Meritage Homes, one of America’s top ten home builders, is now constructing more than 200 homes near Phoenix, Arizona that will be up to 80 percent more energy efficient than typical existing homes of the same size. The standard equipment solar energy system on the homes is the major player in cutting energy costs.
• Rosendin Electric Breaks Ground on $50 Million Solar Project: Rosendin Electric, the nation’s largest private electrical contractor and a 100-percent employee-owned company, will break ground this week on a new photovoltaic power installation project for the Antelope Valley Union High School District.
• Toshiba to Build Electric Drive Motors in the U.S.: Toshiba Corporation will expand manufacturing capacity at its plant in Houston, Texas for production of high-performance drive motors for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Toshiba will begin construction for the expanded capacity in January 2011 in Houston, Texas, on the site of Toshiba International Corporation. Production of the automotive motors would begin in 2012.
• Green tech, jobs hailed in Virgin America expansion:Virgin’s new routes and expanded presence at San Francisco’s airport will bring 500 jobs to the state per year over the course of the next few years.

It’s that time again - a roundup of the latest green jobs news for everyone. Take a look at what’s happening in the green economy this month:

• Coal jobs moving to natural gas: The electricity market is in the doldrums, but the market for new generating stations that use natural gas is going strong, industry experts say. Why? Because gas is beginning to replace coal. This will create construction and operational jobs.
• Photovoltaic manufacturing in Canada: A new highly automated PV module production site based in Ontario with a capacity of 120 MW to be reached in two stages - the first 60MW will be completed by the second quarter of 2011 whereas the remaining 60 MW will be finalized by the end of next year.
• BlueChip Energy Starts Development of 10 MW Solar Farm in Florida: BlueChip Energy ™ has announced it has started stage one of the Rinehart Solar Farm, a 10 MW utility-scale solar PV facility in Central Florida. The project will create approximately 100 jobs during construction.
• Kyocera begins manufacturing solar cells in US: Kyocera has announced that it has begun manufacturing solar modules in San Diego, California to serve the U.S. market’s growing demand for clean, sustainable solar electric generating systems. Kyocera Group companies currently employ approximately 4,000 people in the United States.
• Forecast for LED lighting is bright:By 2020, nearly half (46 percent) of the $4.4 billion commercial lighting business will be given over to LED lighting, leading to more manufacturing and sales jobs.

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is shaping up to be one of the world’s worst environmental disasters - one that will be with us for months, if not years. It will adversely affect millions of people, sea creatures, and plants. But even as BP struggles to shut down the well, hundreds of people are rushing to fight the spill. In fact, this disaster shines a spotlight on a part of the green economy you may not have considered - environmental monitoring and mitigation. These folks step in when things go wrong.To give you an idea of the scope, BP alone has 22,000 people involved in oil spill cleanup and mitigation!

What types of jobs are these? Let’s take a look:

• Commercial boat operators: to deploy booms, maneuver materials and equipment
• Environmental engineer: to measure and design responses to spills
• Oil spill cleanup workers: to work on and offshore responding directly to site conditions; usually requires OSHA hazardous waste certification and training
• Field technician: monitors water and air conditions prior to and after exposure from oil spill
• Logistics and support personnel: to operate trucks, boats, and other transportation equipment in support of spill cleanup efforts
• Biologist: to assist in collecting and treating soiled birds and other wildlife
• Skilled and unskilled laborer: to remove debris, set up protective barriers, and related activities
• Heavy equipment operator: to erect tents, operate fork lifts, erect barriers, and related activities

Good luck in your job hunt!

Lots of action in the green economy in the past few weeks - check it out:

• Lake Erie offshore wind project is a ‘go’: General Electric and an Ohio-based wind developer plan to build an offshore wind farm in Lake Erie in late 2012. The Great Lakes region has good wind and potential for substantial power production.
• Toyota and Telsa to revive Fremont plant for electric vehicles: Toyota announced plans today to build an electric vehicle at the recently closed New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, Calif. Reopening the plant will create 1,000 jobs.
• 900 homes have solar panels at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina: The United States military will have solar panels for hot water installed in 900 homes at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, making the base one of the largest residential producers of solar thermal power. Each house on the base will have one panel on its roof that will cover 75 percent of its hot water needs.
• Climate bill will create 200,000 jobs: A new report estimates that, if enacted, the provisions in the Senate climate and energy bill would create 200,000 new jobs each year from 2011 to 2020. Given that the number of employed civilians in the United States currently exceeds 140 million, that’s a drop in the bucket.
• Cannon Power Group and Gamesa Partner on Baja California Wind Farm: Cannon Power Group and Gamesa Technology Corp. have announced that they have entered into an agreement for the development of a series of wind farms known as the Aubanel Wind Project in Baja California, Mexico near the town of La Rumorosa – approximately 60 miles east of San Diego and 15 miles south of the US - Mexico border.
• DOE awards $62 million for solar power R&D : The U.S. Department of Energy has made $62 million available to 13 companies to test equipment and materials, such as molten salts, to add storage to solar power systems that use heat to produce electricity.

Want to get a green job but don’t have the background or skills? You’re not alone - plenty of folks find themselves in the same boat. In addition to going back to school for more training, you should consider a volunteer or internship position at a green company.

One of the advantages of volunteering is that you can gain experience with an organization AND meet others who work in the green economy. These new contacts may help you in finding a paying job. You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that your efforts are helping valuable organizations - even if they don’t pay you right away.

A good place to start your hunt for a volunteer position is the Corporation for National and Community Service.This website has lots of great information about organizations that need volunteers, plus an extensive section on AmeriCorps, which has a number of green-focused positions (both paid and unpaid).

Internships provide a more focused, pre-professional work experience. An internship provides a way to ‘test the waters’ at a specific company or in a particular occupation without making the long term commitment of a full-time job. You can start your search at websites such Internweb.com, which enables you to specify location, industry, job function, time of year and keyword.

Internships can be paid or unpaid, and some may even offer college credit. However, make sure you are clear on the terms of the internship before accepting. Remember, keeping your long term focus on what you want to do in the green economy is key to finding an internship or volunteer position that will get you there.

Here is the latest roundup of what’s happening in the world of green jobs. Enjoy!

• Google invests nearly $39 million in wind farm: Google is investing in two wind farms in North Dakota - generating additional construction and maintenance jobs for the region.
• Mitsubishi to build Arkansas wind turbine plant: The plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas will employ 400 people and help stem the tide of manufacturing jobs that have left the Fort Smith area.
• Magnetek Receives $6 Million Order for Large Wind Power Inverters: Magnetek, of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, has announced that it has received a production order for its E-Force(tm) wind power inverters valued at approximately $6 million.
• The green economy is growing, but slowly: According to a report released by the Economics and Statistics Administration, a division of the Department of Commerce, green services and businesses amounted to just 1 to 2 percent of the private business economy in 2007.
• Solar Power Partners raised $115 million in new financing: Solar Power Partners, a developer and operator of solar-powered facilities, will use the financing to double their installed capacity in North America, creating additional jobs.

When someone says ‘green jobs’, we usually think of solar installers, environmental engineers, and the like. But the green economy is much bigger than that. Here are a few green jobs you may not have thought of:

• Geoengineer: You would be involved in the large-scale manipulation of the Earth’s climate in order to counteract global warming.
• Garbage consultant: You could call yourself a waste engineer - but whatever the term, you’re helping companies and organizations rethink their production and disposal of waste.
• Pest control technician: Not all bug zappers use toxic chemicals - going ‘green’ is a great way to help the environment and distinguish yourself!
• Bicycle technician: What’s greener than pedal power? With the growth in bike owners comes a need for more bike technicians.
• Bio-Mimicry Engineer: Biomimetics describes the transfer of ideas from biology to technology - in other words, figuring out how nature does something, then using that to our advantage. A biomimicry engineer created Velcro, for example.
• Socially responsible investment adviser: Putting your money to work supporting green businesses can be complicated. That’s where a green-minded investment adviser comes in.
• Eco Tourism Director: Ecotourism is growing at three times the rate of traditional vacationing - and so is employment in this area.
• Garden Guru: More people are dipping their toe into the green gardening world, but they need help. That’s where garden gurus come in.

What about unusual green jobs that you know? Tell us!

The movement to a green economy is slow at times - but it has always been driven to some extent by technology. For example:

• Technology is at the heart of the hybrid and electric cars now on the market or in development
• Technology drives the new generation of ’smart’ electric meters and other energy conservation measures for consumers
• Technology underlies the development of solutions to global warming, from ways to ‘encase’ carbon dioxide to the creation of higher efficiency solar panels and wind generators

Technology also lowers costs for everyone over the long haul - witness the continual improvement in personal computers even as prices have dropped.

Most importantly, though, technology helps create jobs. How? First, technology can reduce operating costs, enabling companies to reinvest in new products and markets - thus creating more employment opportunities. Secondly, it fuels the development of new products and services, which by definition will increase jobs in sales, marketing, manufacturing, and a host of other sectors.

Finally, technology allows companies of varying sizes to stay competitive in a global market - thus furthering the creation of more green jobs right here in the U.S.!

Time for another roundup of green job news from Great Green Careers!:

• The wind industry continues to grow: A record 10,010 megawatts of new wind capacity was installed in the United States last year, accounting for 39 percent of new electrical generation, the American Wind Energy Association said in its annual report.
• GSA Invests $4 Billion in Green Recovery Act Construction Projects Nationwide: To transform federal buildings into higher performing, greener buildings, the agency announced that it awarded construction projects to more than 500 companies creating jobs in all 50 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia by investing $4 billion in Recovery Act funds.
• Suniva Plans New Solar Manufacturing Plant with Selection in Loan Guarantee Program: Suniva plans to start the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Saginaw County, Michigan. Building such a manufacturing plant could create approximately 500 direct jobs at Suniva, while creating an additional 2,000 indirect jobs for the Michigan economy according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
• 10 Ways to Turn Any MBA into a Sustainable MBA: Regardless of which kind of MBA or business degree program you choose to pursue, there are countless ways to bring sustainability into your program.
• Mitsubishi will produce wind turbines in Arkansas: Company executives gathered with state and local officials in Fort Smith, Arkansas to mark Mitsubishi’s decision to build the plant, which will employ at least 400 people and help stem the tide of manufacturing jobs that have left the Fort Smith area.