Here’s our latest roundup of news related to current and planned green jobs:

• eSolar and NRG agree on partnership:   NRG Energy, one of the United States’ most coal-dependent utilities, has signed a deal with California startup eSolar to develop solar power plants. Read more…
• Distributed solar is creating jobs: In California, regulators authorized the utility Southern California Edison’s program to install 500 megawatts of solar on commercial rooftops. Also, the New York Power Authority announced a program to install 100 megawatts of solar arrays around the state. Read more…
• San Francisco readies for electric cars: The San Francisco building code will soon be revised to require that new structures be wired for car chargers. Read more…
• Financing spurs building retrofits: On the heels of San Francisco’s announcement last week that it plans to spend $150 million greening up homes, comes a new report that studies a slew of other innovative ways to finance energy efficiency improvements for all types of buildings. Read more…
• NV Energy and NextLight Renewable Power Sign 25-Year Power Purchase Agreement for Solar Project: The project will employ up to 230 workers during construction and is targeted for initial energy deliveries in May 2011. Read more…
• More wind power in Nebraska: The Nebraska Public Power District, along with Midwest Wind Energy, Edison Mission Group, and EMG affiliate Laredo Ridge Wind, have announced the signing of a 20-year power purchase agreement that will pave the way for construction of an 80-megawatt wind farm near Petersburg, Nebraska. Read more…

The solar-energy industry is in the midst of dramatic job surge. A 2008 report from the United Nations Environment Programme found that the solar photovoltaic industry employed 170,000 people worldwide. That number is likely to increase dramatically over the next decade, especially with government initiatives to boost the industry, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.To see how people with diverse backgrounds are taking advantage of this budding industry, see this collection of solar job profiles from the Solar Energy Industries Association website.

According to a recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar industry could be responsible for 880,000 new jobs in the United States by the end of the decade. The association says the solar energy industry is capable of growing to the point of producing 15 percent of U.S. energy by 2020.But the SEIA says this depends on whether the federal government equals out the amount of subsidies given to conventional- (coal, oil) and solar-energy industries €” either by decreasing the amount of subsidies given to conventional energy or by increasing the amount given to solar energy.

The Environmental Law Institute reports that between 2002 and 2008, the federal government gave fossil-fuel industries $72 billion in subsidies. Over that same time period, renewable-energy industries received $29 billion, about half of which went toward the production of ethanol. More balanced federal subsidies would allow the solar-energy industry to offer more competitive energy prices.

If the solar-energy industry is able to increase its share of the energy market to the predicted 15 percent, the SEIA says it would cut U.S. energy-related emissions by 10 percent.

(By Sean Rosner)

A quick rundown of green jobs news for the week:

• Green jobs in the midwest: A new report from the Univ. of Michigan and the Climate Group could add up to 100,000 new jobs in the midwest from wind turbines, hybrid vehicles manufacturing, and other low carbon technologies.
• Climate change creates more jobs: Revenues from energy efficiency, renewables, and other climate-related sectors could top $2 trillion by 2020, according to a report by HSBC Global Research. Growth of this magnitude will fuel increased job opportunities.
• Wind power is going strong: The world’s wind power capacity grew by 31% in 2009, with new wind developments representing more than $2.2 billion in investments.
• Hawaiian solar: Hoku Scientific and Tianwei are investing $50 million in solar projects throughout Hawaii - creating jobs for both installation and operation of the projects.

As part of our ongoing review of green job opportunities by sector, we’re focusing today on environmental engineering. This is a broad sector, ranging from companies that specialize in environmental impact statements, to companies working on recycling, and beyond.

Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites.

Here are some of the positions you’ll find in this sector:

• water and wastewater engineer
• environmental and safety manager
• air quality engineer
• hazardous waste engineer
• solid waste manager
• civil engineers
• sanitary engineers
• industrial hygienist
• laboratory analyst
• land management specialist

Potential employers include private consulting engineering firms, all types of government (local, state, federal), universities, corporations, and testing laboratories. Demand for most environmental engineering positions has consistently outstripped demand for the past several decades.

How to start? For all positions, you need a B.S. in engineering - usually civil, chemical, mechanical, or environmental. Many employers prefer a M.S. in environmental engineering. A big plus is strong communication skills, as many environmental engineering positions require interaction with non-engineers.

A good place to start looking for your environmental engineering position, of course, is on Great Green Careers. Also check local, state, and federal job listings. Good luck!