GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR
GROWING GREEN JOBS:
Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
Policy changes at the state and local levels likely will be the strongest determinants of where green jobs
will flourish. Right now, across the country, hundreds of cities and states are considering new renewable
standards, building code changes, incentive packages for energy-related firms, and other measures that will
drive demand for green industry workers with relevant and up-to-date skills. Community colleges can be
a critical voice in advancing policies that create specific opportunities for students to access and complete
programs in an evolving and promising green world.

About AACC’s Green Action Plan Series
This action plan series includes practical and actionable steps that colleges can take to not only prepare a
skilled workforce, but also to become change agents in regional efforts to develop a green economy.

About SEED
The American Association of Community Colleges’ Sustainability Education and Economic Development
(SEED) initiative aims to advance sustainability and green workforce development practices at community
colleges. With more than 425 college members, SEED identifies and shares promising models and resources
and builds the capacity of college leaders, faculty, and staff. This program is consistent with AACC’s
commitment to access and completion as part of the national goal to increase the number of students who
complete degrees, certificates, and other credentials with value in the work place. More information can be
found at www.theseedcenter.org or by contacting sustainability@aacc.nche.edu.

                              AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
Acknowledgements
 The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy
 organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents nearly
 1,200 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions, and more than 12 million
 students. AACC promotes community colleges through five strategic action areas:
 recognition and advocacy for community colleges; student access, learning and
 success; community college leadership development; economic and workforce
 development; and global and intercultural education. More information can be
 found at www.aacc.nche.edu.

 Special Thanks
 Primary authors: Todd Cohen, Debra Rowe, and Leith Sharp, in conjunction
 with the AACC Center for Workforce and Economic Development.

           start with people

 AACC would like to thank our partner, ecoAmerica, and collaborators, AASHE,
 Second Nature, and the Greenforce Initiative for their support of this document.
 In addition, AACC would like to thank the following individuals in particular for
 their critical contributions: Mary Spilde, President, Lane Community College, Rose
 Johnson, President, Haywood Community College, Remmele Young, Houston
 Community College, and Holger Ekanger, Macomb Community College. AACC
 would also like to thank Jerry Weber, President of the College of Lake County for his
 leadership of the SEED Initiative.

 This work and publication were made possible through the
 generous support of The Kresge Foundation.

AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
Message from the American Association
 of Community Colleges (AACC) about the
 SEED Green Action Plan Series

  AACC is pleased to offer the SEED Green Action Plan Series, a set of practical guides
 and actionable steps that colleges can take to not only prepare a skilled workforce, but
 also to become change agents in regional efforts to develop a green and sustainable
 economy. For an emerging industry like this—where job growth potential is significant
 but great uncertainty surrounds market conditions—colleges can be doing a lot now
 to prepare for promising future opportunities. These action plans, aimed at senior
 administrators, faculty, and staff, are important resources to ultimately speed the
 implementation of these efforts.

 AACC looks forward to working with you in this endeavor.

 Walter G. Bumphus
 President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges

AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
Message from College Leadership

Colleges and Green Public Policy: A Perfect Match
As many regions have learned over the past several years, industries such as wind and         “[T]he greening of America
energy efficiency and green building do not simply emerge in random locations. It
                                                                                              is not a fleeting fad. It will
                                                                                              continue to influence and
takes a comprehensive, region-wide effort to create the right conditions that make the
                                                                                              impact our lives, requiring
area attractive to new energy employers, clean technology innovators, and, ultimately,
                                                                                              the development of eco-
new job opportunities.
                                                                                              conscious, highly skilled
One of these conditions—stable public policies that incentivize sustainable energy
                                                                                              workers, citizens, and
                                                                                              communities. Community
industry growth—may be the most critical determinant of where green jobs will flourish.
                                                                                              colleges are not only in a
As community colleges, we have a real opportunity, perhaps even a responsibility to           perfect position to do this;
be aware of and active in local and state policy development efforts. This includes           they also may be the only
being more engaged in regional economic development planning activities aimed at
                                                                                              public institution whose
                                                                                              mission and connection to
creating sustainable and green communities. We cannot sit and wait for green jobs
                                                                                              community make
(and subsequent training opportunities) to simply appear. In today’s challenging
                                                                                              it possible.”
economy, we must aggressively advocate for strategies to spur job growth and training
in promising green technology fields.                                                         Mary Spilde, President, Lane
                                                                                              Community College and
To help us fulfill our critical role, I am pleased to introduce this SEED green policies      former AACC
action plan. It is designed to help colleges and others who want to create green jobs         Board Chair
to better understand and leverage the impact of public policy on regional economic
development. I am confident that it will empower colleges to become change agents,
work more closely with those outside their institution, and help drive the development
of a sustainable economy.

Rose Johnson, Ph.D.
President, Haywood Community College (NC)
Executive Member, AACC Sustainability Task Force

                                     AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
INTRODUCTION:
                                  THE GREEN ECONOMY EQUATION

                                  While the weak economy has stunted the                    Local and state utility regulations,
Conditions for Building           growth and promise of green industries,                   energy portfolio standards, financial
   Robust Regional
                                  it is not entirely to blame. Many regions                 incentives, and other policies can be
  Green Economies
                                  simply lack the right synergistic,                        the most important determinants of
• Appropriate national, state,    comprehensive conditions for these                        where green companies and jobs will
  and local policies that         industries to take hold.                                  emerge. Colleges can have an immediate
  incentivize market growth                                                                 impact on local, state, and even federal
                                  In some regions, there is a disconnect                    development and adoption of such
• Knowledgeable consumers
                                  between training capacity and job
  and business owners who                                                                   policies through the work of their
                                  growth. A community may have
  understand, embrace, and                                                                  government and community affairs
                                  providers who train solar technicians,
  demand new green products                                                                 departments, by engaging students and
  and services                    but inadequate regulatory incentives and                  the public in local projects and civic
                                  consumer demand to support a solar
• Seed and growth capital                                                                   engagement, and by convening and
                                  products sector. Or, green regulations                    collaborating with businesses, workforce
• A collaborative group of        may encourage industry growth in
  leaders to envision, plan,                                                                boards, and others to champion policy
                                  an area with no training programs to
  and implement actions that                                                                initiatives. This engagement becomes
                                  produce qualified workers. It is crucial
  will create more sustainable                                                              a critical part of enabling colleges to
                                  to cultivate the right conditions for
  communities and economies                                                                 anticipate new green workforce needs.
                                  simultaneously training green workers
• An educated and trained
                                  and growing green businesses.                             Colleges across the country have set
  workforce with a range
                                                                                            precedents for participating in regional
  of skills                       Community colleges have the stature,                      green policy and strategy development.
                                  reach, and mission to assume a                            These regions show the greatest promise
                                  prominent role in tying these conditions                  for providing opportunities for green
                                  together and creating the synergy for                     jobs and training.
                                  green job growth.1 Smart public policy is
                                  the starting point.

                                  1
                                      Institutional cost savings achieved through improvements to campus facilities and operations are also
                                      a major impetus for community colleges to engage in sustainability issues. However, this document
                                      focuses primarily on colleges’ roles in helping to spur green job creation through economic development.

                                 AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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GROWING GREEN JOBS: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR - Community Colleges Shaping State and Local Energy Policies
PART I: THE POLICY LANDSCAPE
AND COLLEGES’ ROLE

Public Policies, Regulations,               At a local level, cities across the country
                                            are implementing ordinances such as             In 2011, the Dubuque,
and Incentives
                                                                                            IA, City Council passed
Perhaps the most critical factors           green building codes and energy audit
                                                                                            an ordinance requiring
driving job growth in green industries      requirements that are stimulating
                                                                                            all area solar thermal
are energy policy and regulatory            demand for weatherization services and
                                                                                            installation projects be
changes that remove barriers and            more efficient building products. In fact,
                                                                                            performed by licensed and
incentivize energy conservation and the     according to the U.S. Green Building            trained individuals. An
use of renewable energies. Although         Council, more than 450 localities across        active participant in this
significant federal action on this front    the United States have now adopted              policy process, Northeast
seems unlikely in the short term, many      some form of LEED requirement for               Iowa Community College
states are developing and implementing      construction or renovation projects.            (NICC) formed the region’s
action plans that outline how they                                                          first solar thermal course
                                            Similarly, states and communities               that satisfies the licensing
will adapt to environmental issues and
                                            increasingly use financial incentives as        requirements and that leads
transition to a sustainable and
                                            a tool to attract clean energy industry         to a NABCEP certification.
fast-growing economy. These efforts
                                            manufacturers and suppliers. Production         The new standards ensure
have resulted in policy initiatives—such
                                            tax credits, sales and property tax             workers receive a new set
as energy efficient resource standards,
                                            exemptions, low-interest and                    of marketable skills and
renewable portfolio standards,
                                            long-term loans, revolving loan funds,          support the emergence of a
feed-in tariffs, net-metering, and new                                                      new sub market.
                                            and rebates for industry (and colleges)
state procurement codes—that increase
                                            aimed at increasing energy efficiency and
the need for more green industry
                                            renewable energy building installations
workers and training opportunities.
                                            not only help increase local demand
For example, renewable portfolio
                                            for new clean energy products, but also
standards, which require a certain
                                            make regions more attractive to global
percentage of electricity power to come
                                            energy firms looking to establish a
from renewable energy sources, are
                                            presence in visionary, progressive states.
expanding investments in wind and
geothermal technologies. Feed-in            Even states and regions that appear to be
tariff policies, more specifically,         doing little to stimulate a green economy
are leading to the expansion of             have small and large-scale policy
solar installations by making solar         initiatives at work. A sample of these
photovoltaics cost competitive.             green policies appears below with the
                                            number of states that have adopted them.

                                   AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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U.S. State Energy and Climate Policies (number of states with policy in place)

    Climate Action                                                            Transportation Sector
     •   Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets (23)                                   •   Vehicle GHG Emissions Standards (15)
     •   Emissions Caps for Electricity (16)                                     •   Mandates and Incentives Promoting Biofuels (43)
     •   Climate Action Plans (38)                                               •   VMT-Related Policies and Incentives (19)
     •   Active Climate Legislative Commissions and Executive                    •   Low Carbon Fuel Standard (24)
         Branch Advisory Groups (24)                                             •   Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Policies (39)
     •   Regional Initiatives (32)                                               •   Plug-in Electric Vehicles (35)
     •   GHG Reporting and Registries (42)

    Energy Sector                                                             Building Sector
     • Public Benefit Funds (20)                                                 •   Residential Building Energy Codes (38)
     • Renewable & Alternative Energy Portfolio                                  •   Commercial Building Energy Codes (41)
         Standards (38)                                                          •   Green Building Standards for State Buildings (43)
     •   Net Metering Programs (45)                                              •   Appliance Efficiency Standards (15)
     •   Green Pricing Programs (12)                                             •   Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs (24)
     •   Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (28)
     •   Financial Incentives for Carbon Capture and Storage (16)

                         Adapted from: http://www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_states/state_action_maps.cfm

All of these policy changes will                      other skilled workers who know                      Importantly, the college role in public
continue to drive the demand for                      how to install and repair them. For a               policy is not limited to advocacy
training for jobs up and down the                     community college, this can represent               or even policy initiation. Faced
supply chain. 2 As states adopt energy                a critical mass of demand for                       with depleting resources, college
efficiency resource standards that                    education and training opportunities.               administrators, trustees, faculty, staff,
require utilities to save a certain                                                                       and students have opportunities to
amount of energy, new building                        Community College Role in                           partner more closely with regional
codes are being shaped to meet them.                  Public Policy Green Advocacy                        and state stakeholder groups whose
This spurs increased demand for                       Community colleges have been very                   mission is to lead these policy efforts.
certified energy managers who can                     powerful and influential advocates for              Through these partnerships, and a host
inspect these buildings; component                    local, state, and federal policy on issues          of existing resources, colleges can better
manufacturing firms that can                          affecting workforce development and                 understand what policy and funding
design and construct new heating                      education and training, and including               streams drive consumer demand
and cooling systems and lighting                      financial aid. Although many colleges               and industry growth—and be better
structures; salespeople who can                       may be new to sustainable energy                    prepared for meeting the specific needs
sell the systems and structures; and                  legislation and policies, this sector’s             of businesses.
HVAC technicians, electricians, and                   potential to spur job growth makes it
                                                      well worth pursuing.

2
    One recent study highlighted that “[A]ggressive [energy efficiency] measures combined with a 30 percent [Renewable Portfolio Standard] target in 2030
    can generate more than 4 million full-time equivalent jobs” From “Putting Renewables and Energy Efficiency To Work: How Many Jobs Can The Clean
    Energy Industry Generate in the U.S.?” Energy Policy, Volume 38, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 919-931
    Wei, M.; Patadia, S.; Kammen, D.M.

                                              AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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PART II: TAKING ACTION
We suggest 11 specific policy action                           sustainability officer, or other,
steps that community college leadership,                       should incorporate these discussions
faculty, and staff can take to help build                      as part of the regular agenda of
their regional green economies. Some                           campus sustainability committees.
speak to short-term legislative advocacy                       The individual should have the
activities, some require forming closer                        capacity to connect the dots between
relationships with state agencies, and                         certain policy directives and their
others include longer-term efforts to                          impact on the institution—and then
build a stronger community culture of                          communicate that effectively up to
civic engagement.                                              college senior administrators and with
                                                               key external stakeholder groups.
Many colleges across the country are
                                                               Bergen Community College (NJ),
already engaged in these efforts, proving
                                                               Finger Lakes Community College
that they can be accomplished. Use the
                                                               (NY), Howard Community College
SEED Center to learn more about these
                                                               (MD), Mesa Community College (AZ),
stories and the local leadership.
                                                               and Rockingham Community College
                                                               (NC) are just a few colleges that have a
Get Informed
                                                               designated climate commitment policy
Colleges must understand the local
                                                               liaison3 dedicated to this function.
industries and their region’s specific
                                                               Chandler-Gilbert Community College
connection between public policies/
                                                               (AZ) has a standing civic engagement
incentives that will encourage green
                                                               committee that monitors these
market growth and specific job creation.
                                                               issues and hosts an annual Energy
They must also begin to envision how
                                                               Policy Forum. Speakers include state
the college administration, faculty,
                                                               politicians, agency heads, and utility
and students can best get involved in
                                                               representatives and other private
advocacy efforts.
                                                               sector leaders. The event typically
1. Identify a campus lead and include                          draws 250 administrators, faculty,
   policy on the college’s sustainability                      staff, students, and the public.
   agenda. Make it someone’s job                               There are also an increasing number
   to track green economy-related                              of state community college system
   regional, state and federal policy,                         organizations that are supporting
   regulatory and program initiatives;                         smaller colleges (with no standing
   and identify gaps and opportunities.                        government affairs or sustainability
   The individual, whether a government                        committees) in conducting this kind
   affairs representative, a faculty                           of energy policy tracking.
   member, a facilities planner, a

3
    Identified as such as a signatory institution of the American College and University Presidents’
    Climate Commitment.

                                                AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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2. Be aware of the local and state policy         • Solar Energy Industries Association
    landscape affecting the industry.                www.seia.org
    Colleges should tap the most                     Includes examples of state policies
    up-to-date green job trends, clean               and incentive tools as well as
    energy industry developments, and                legislative action alerts.
    related legislative/policy issues. These
                                                   • American Council On
    should become part of existing college
                                                     Renewable Energy
    research and communication strate-
                                                     www.acore.org
    gies. At a basic level, colleges should
                                                     Includes snapshots of every state
    be able to determine which directives
                                                     highlighting renewable energy
    are in place and how they are impact-
                                                     capacity, job growth, industry
    ing certain subsectors of the industry
                                                     investment, and active policies.
    within their region.
                                                   • Database for State Incentives for
    Fortunately, a wealth of current                 Renewables and Efficiency
    information exists:                              www.dsireusa.org
                                                     Includes a database of existing state
    • Building Codes Assistance Project
                                                     policies and financial incentives.
      http://bcap-ocean.org/code-status
      Includes a series of U.S. maps
                                                     Some of these organizations will
      depicting building energy code
                                                     also support colleges in taking state
      adoption and implementation status.
                                                     action. For example, at no expense,
    • Efficiency First                               the American Wind Energy
      www.efficiencyfirst.org/policy/                Association (www.awea.org)
      Includes information on a number               will supply issue briefs, legislative
      of federal, state, and local policy            talking points, and help colleges
      programs from HOME STAR                        set up meetings at congressional
      legislation to energy efficiency               representatives’ offices.
      tax credits.                                   (For more information, email
                                                     grassroots@awea.org.)
    • American Council for an Energy
      Efficient Economy
      www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy
      Includes detailed information on
      existing utility policies, building
      codes, financial incentives, and
      a summary of related policy
      priorities for each state.

AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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Santa Fe Community College’s Policy Development Efforts to
            Build the Clean Energy Industry

At Santa Fe Community College                     access to the process, are able to
(SFCC), engaging in clean energy-                 rapidly refine curriculum and training
related public policy development                 programs to reflect expected market
is core to its mission and critical to            changes. In this case, SFCC’s Building
ensuring students get and succeed in jobs.        Construction and Environmental
                                                  Technology programs have undergone
At a local level, adjunct faculty                 recent upgrades to meet these new
continue to work closely with city                renewable energy, energy efficiency,
officials and the Home Builders                   and green building directives.
Association in an effort to make
the local building codes green. At a              When asked why the college has
regional level, the college serves on a           devoted so much time to the public
city/county task force that developed             policy process, Randy Grissom, the
the state’s first Renewable Energy                Director of SFCC’s Sustainability
Financing District, a policy that                 Technology Center, exclaims, “We
allows commercial property owners                 don’t have a lot of industry here [in
to secure a long-term loan to purchase            Santa Fe]. So, as a community, we
and install a solar photovoltaic, solar           need to take a risk and try to grow
thermal, wind, or other renewable                 one. And as our state economic
energy system, and pay the loan back              development officials seek to provide
through their property taxes.                     incentives to draw these green
                                                  technology companies to the state,
At a state level, SFCC faculty and                we always remind them that we
students participated on a task force             better have a skilled workforce.
that provided recommendations to the              Or the jobs will ultimately go
New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and                  somewhere else.”
Natural Resources Department on
solar industry incentive package
design options.

In each case, college representatives
are not only shaping the state’s
overall approach to sustainability,
but, given their involvement and

                 AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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3. Determine your region’s unique                 In addition, at a local level, colleges
   mix of opportunities for green job             should work with their workforce            As college personnel become
   growth by connecting with your                 investment boards, specifically,            knowledgeable on these
                                                                                              issues, they are increasingly
   state energy office, your economic             to ensure they include standing
                                                                                              getting recognized as
   development entity, and your utilities.        representatives from each of these
                                                                                              policy experts. Faculty and
   Understanding, for example, how                specific organizations. Their presence
                                                                                              administrators from colleges
   utility companies are planning their           will help create a direct line of
                                                                                              such as Lane Community
   workforce to meet new portfolio                communication to local green-collar         College (OR) and Johnson
   standards or how local incentives              businesses and contractors.                 County Community College
   for commercial lighting retrofits                                                          (TN) have provided public
                                               4. Join forces with local advocacy
   will impact new supplier skill needs                                                       testimony during hearings
                                                  organizations. Many regions
   is critical for colleges designing             have local affiliates and nonprofit         for issues such as energy
   responsive programs.                                                                       tax credits and local utility
                                                  organizations already dedicated
                                                                                              rate cases (to fund expanded
                                                  to tracking and advocating for
  Working closely with state energy                                                           energy efficiency activities).
                                                  certain energy and environmental
  offices, regional utilities, and                policies. Organizations such as the
  economic development agencies                   American Solar Energy Society,
  will provide a clear picture of the             the Environmental Defense Fund,
  loan funds, tax credits, and other              the Sierra Club, and the U.S. Green
  programs that states offer to spur              Building Council have local chapters
  renewable energy generation,                    across the country that are explicity
  encourage energy conservation, and              aiming for increased community
  catalyze new energy companies.                  college support. In addition,
  In a growing number of states and               organizational collaborations that
  regions, these organizations are now            develop and promote new energy
  collaborating with the workforce                policies are increasing their presence
  system as “State Energy Sector                  at both a regional level (e.g. Energy
  Partnerships” or similar sector                 Efficiency Alliances) and state level
  employer panels to discuss how these            (various energy research consortia
  policy drivers translate into industry          and industry associations). Where
  skill needs. Colleges should be                 appropriate, community colleges
  represented in these efforts.                   should be incorporated as board or
                                                  advisory members or volunteers in
                                                  these efforts.

                                     AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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Mobilize and Partner
        Northern Maine Community College                                        Colleges can be more active in
               as a Policy Convener                                             supporting policies, from lending their
Northern Maine Community               NMCC hosts many of the                   names to legislative efforts to serving
College (NMCC) is a                    collaborative meetings and               as a regional convener of energy and
key convener in a multi-               brokered important alliances             environmental planning initiatives. In
stakeholder county                     within the partnership on                addition, colleges can encourage civic
collaborative aimed at                 the way toward getting full              engagement on issues such as resource
creating a sustainable region          plan cooperation.                        conservation, fuel sources, and energy
and an alternative energy                                                       rate structures by using the campus to
                                       “We are committed to
industry sector. Launched in                                                    educate students and the general public.
                                       supporting and leading
2010, the Mobilize Northern
                                       economic development efforts
Maine comprehensive
                                       in northern Maine,” explains
planning process includes                                                       5. Hone messaging around the economy.
                                       NMCC President Timothy
representatives from the                                                           As with any advocacy effort,
                                       Crowley. “That leadership
regional development                                                               organizational messaging is crucial.
                                       manifests itself in the building
commission, the business                                                           While incorporating sustainability
                                       of networks and relationships
community, nonprofits,
                                       that help address expansion                 into a college’s overall policy
government, and higher
                                       of our economy in very                      message is important, many colleges
education. The partnership
                                       challenging times.”                         report success, recently, in focusing
is now moving aggressively
on several fronts including                                                        in particular on the job creation
                                       See a full description soon
expanding biomass                                                                  potential of sustainable industries.
                                       of NMCC’s new Renewable
conversion and designing               Energy Center of Excellence                 As Jerry Weber, President of College
financing structures to                and training plans at                       of Lake County (IL) states: “In
support regional energy                www.theseedcenter.org                       this economic climate, discussions
efficient modifications.                                                           about jobs and cost savings are
                                                                                   what resonate with our state
                                                                                   representatives. They also understand
                                                                                   that green skills can make the
                                                                                   workforce ready for industries, and
                                                                                   energy efficiency can mean savings
                                                                                   that can be reallocated
                                                                                   for instruction.”

                                AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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6. Act as the regional energy strategy           curriculum efforts and works
   convener. Community colleges                  with Illinois’ energy bureau under
   can serve as a critical convening             the Department of Commerce &
   organization as more regions                  Economic Opportunity on various
   across the country assemble to                policy initiatives that impact
   discuss renewable energy choices,             campus energy use and workforce
   conservation techniques, and ways             development. This agency now
   to attract green jobs. As credible            provides funding to support the
   and recognizable organizations,               IGEN’s efforts to significantly
  community colleges are naturally               reduce energy demand across the
  suited to host clean energy policy             Illinois community college system. In
  and planning meetings and to broker            addition, IGEN is working with state
  stakeholder relationships between              legislators and has begun to create
  economic developers, industry and              legislation to allow for continual
  utility leaders, government officials,         funding of IGEN initiatives. Similar
  unions, students, the public, and              state wide college collaborations
  others. The result of which can be             are emerging in California, North
  a regional coalition of support for            Carolina, Texas, and elsewhere.
  smart energy policies that grow local          Work through the AACC SEED
  businesses, provide more green jobs,           Center to learn about and access
  and yield financial savings                    leaders of these statewide college
  for residents.                                 initiatives to determine how their
                                                 model may be applied.
7. Connect with other colleges
   regionally or statewide. A joint
   effort will not only make it easier
   for colleges to stay abreast of policy
   possibilities, but also showcase a more
   powerful singular voice on legislative
   changes to local, state, and federal
   officials. In Illinois, all 48 community
   colleges have partnered to create the
   Illinois Green Economy Network
   (IGEN at www.igencc.org). This
   group coordinates green-collar

                                     AACC Green Action Plan Series – www.theseedcenteer.org

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San Diego Miramar College’s Workforce Development
                    Response to New Climate Regulations

The integration of energy and air quality                    their own programs. The emphasis is on
regulations is critical in California to limit               enhancing colleges’ existing programs
greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite the               (e.g. in heavy duty or diesel technology)
agreed upon need to foster cleaner air quality,              to include natural gas as part of
the South Coast Air Quality Management                       their curriculum.
District and various regional transit,
                                                         In just a short time, 150 workers have already
wastehauler, and trucking companies faced a
                                                         been trained with many more planned as both
key challenge in keeping new advanced fuel and
                                                         programs continue to grow. The success has led
technology vehicles on the road. The problem:
                                                         to an important new partnership between the
because technicians at these companies did
                                                         air regulatory agency, the network of ATTE
not have the full skill set to maintain or repair
                                                         community colleges, and now the Southern
its vehicles, vehicle down time was significant
                                                         California Gas Company, which may open the
resulting in less-than-desired
                                                         door for additional SDMC-led
emission improvements.
                                                         training opportunities.
San Diego Miramar College (SDMC), as part
                                                          “Just having a relationship with the air
of California Community College’s Advanced
                                                          regulatory agency and the state Energy
Transportation Technology and Energy
                                                          Commission gave me greater insight into the
Initiative (ATTE), responded. The ATTE Center
                                                          challenges they were having with industry
at SDMC worked with both governmental
                                                          regulatory compliance,” explains Greg
agencies and industry members to spearhead a
                                                          Newhouse, SDMC Associate Dean. “When
comprehensive approach:
                                                          I realized the policy problem was tied to
  • In the immediate term, the ATTE Center                workforce development we were able to use
    in partnership with other five other                  our industry and agency contacts and learn
    community colleges implemented a                      from employers regarding their specific training
    four-day incumbent worker training                    requirements. Now, workers across the region
    program that introduces existing                      are getting updated skills, new students will get
    technicians to natural gas technologies and           jobs, and the intention of the policy will be met:
    diagnosing and inspecting hybrid vehicles.            California will have more alternative vehicles
                                                          on the road and ultimately cleaner air.”
  • To address the longer-term talent pipeline
    issues, SDMC is managing a program to
    train faculty at colleges across southern
    California to develop curriculum for

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8. Commit to civic engagement skill               Project is highlighted as a national
Bard College has established        building for students. As Dr. Mary             higher education model. AASHE
a program that allows               Spilde, President of Lane Community            is currently building a curricular
students around the                 Colleges explains, “[Today’s students]         component to their Web site
country to engage in live           have the expectation that colleges not         including more examples of colleges
video discussions between
                                    only understand the [sustainability]           incorporating energy-related civic
community members and
                                    issues but are proactive in responding         engagement within
their elected representatives
                                    to the . . . This provides avenues for         academic assignments.
on issues of clean energy
                                    student engagement and real-world
and climate change. (Email
climate@bard.edu.)                  problem solving that make education         9. Engage the public. Through
                                    more relevant and enhance student              continuing education and other
                                    learning outcomes.”                            forums, colleges have a role to
                                                                                   play in delivering or reinforcing
                                    As a start, colleges should connect            key sustainability messages to a
                                    student life staff, student groups, and        community that may not always
                                    faculty to integrate civic engagement          understand the potential incentives
                                    into curricular and co-curricular              and specific advantages of taking
                                    activities. Programs like www.350.org          action. Such actions include
                                    (developed by Middlebury College)              weatherizing their homes, installing
                                    and the Energy Action Coalition                solar panels, and reducing waste.
                                    (http://energyactioncoalition.org/)            Many colleges now host sustainability
                                    are aimed at mobilizing students on            conferences, green speaker series,
                                    campuses around the country around             sustainable products fairs, specialized
                                    climate change and access to good              workshops, and other events that
                                    green jobs. For example, the Energy            help the public, business owners, and
                                    Action Coalition hosts Powershift, a           employees become more knowledgeable
                                    national gathering where participants          and effectively engaged in advocating
                                    meet directly with elected officials.          for smarter energy policies and job
                                                                                   creation in this industry. See www.
                                    Additionally, the Association for              theseedcenter.org/Colleges-in-Action
                                    the Advancement of Sustainability              for a growing compendium of examples
                                    in Higher Education (www.aashe.                of colleges engaged in community
                                    org.) provides a number of college             engagement efforts.
                                    examples of students connecting
                                    directly with local businesses for
                                    internships, service learning projects,
                                    and course-based civic engagement
                                    to promote sustainable practices.
                                    Butte College’s American Democracy

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                                                         15
Commit Internally                                  In the fall of 2011, AACC’s SEED
A great deal of internal campus                    Initiative will release a leadership         One of the differentiating
education must occur to persuade                   action plan to provide college               features of the Green
                                                   presidents specific steps, messaging         Education Institute Advisory
presidents, trustees, and other leaders
                                                                                                Board at Atlantic Cape
that sustainability and green job growth           techniques, and other best
                                                                                                Community College (ACCC)
not only are important, but also merit             practices to effectively lead campus
                                                                                                is its emphasis on the
active policy engagement.                          sustainability initiatives, engage
                                                                                                importance of the college’s
                                                   trustees, and advocate externally.
                                                                                                role in consumer education,
10. Build the institutional leadership.
                                                11. Incentivize green policy                    along with career education,
  Elevating the role of college senior
                                                   understanding and action through             as drivers of green economic
  administrators to guide and advocate
                                                   faculty and student development. To          development. As the
  on behalf of community sustainability
                                                   build students’ skills, colleges must        associate dean of continuing
  initiatives is critical. Fortunately, there                                                   education operations
                                                   make sure faculty and staff also have
  are a growing number of resources                                                             explains, “Our role is
                                                   the knowledge and skills for civic
  targeting this specific audience.                                                             to educate the consumer
                                                   engagement. Colleges should include
  AACC’s Sustainability Task Force                                                              on energy efficiency and
                                                   information on policy engagement in
  (http://www.theseedcenter.org/About-                                                          renewable energy ideas,
                                                   the professional development activities
  SEED/SEED-Leaders/Sustainability-                                                             as well as to educate a
                                                   for faculty and staff and encourage          workforce to support the
  Task-Force) is an open group of 35
                                                   integration of these opportunities           economic development of
  plus college presidents that guide
                                                   into the academic and co-curricular          new green jobs and the
  AACC’s SEED initiative and meet to
                                                   parts of campus life by including            retraining of our workforce
  share specific campus sustainability
                                                   them in annual staff reviews. In             for existing jobs that require
  challenges and public policies. The
                                                   addition, colleges should integrate          updated skills.”
  American College and University
                                                   civic engagement into the agendas for
  Presidents’ Climate Commitment                                                                From the upcoming
                                                   partnership building in as many areas
  (ACUPCC) is a powerful                                                                        Greenforce Initiative Report
                                                   of the college as possible, and into the
  demonstration of both individual
                                                   expectations for the governmental
  and collective leadership, providing
                                                   relations office.
  credibility and organizational support
  for advocacy efforts. Second Nature              Other opportunities that colleges are
  (www.secondnature.org) has                       pursuing include:
  established a Presidential Fellowship            • Creating incentives for student
  program engaging recently retired                  projects, faculty courses, campus
  college presidents to work with their              operations, and general college
  colleagues in support of the ACUPCC                outreach work to be directed
  and other sustainability initiatives.              towards fostering greater support
                                                     for green economy related policies,
                                                     regulations, and programs.

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                                                                16
• Providing a stipend to faculty to         advantage of them. The colleges’
“Through our visits to
                                       integrate green economy                   collective commitment is to seek
Washington, we offer
                                       policy-related work into their            opportunities for students and workers
policy-makers a real-
                                       course design.                            to access and complete programs
world perspective on how
their decisions affect local                                                     and attain the credentials needed to
                                     • Raising the profile and related
communities, and in turn                                                         compete in an ever-changing and
                                       activities through coverage in the
we stay informed of key                                                          expanding economy. Engaging in
                                       media and press and in the college
issues affecting our strategic                                                   effective government advocacy and
                                       website or newspaper.
planning. Green jobs are at                                                      supporting employment sectors is not
the forefront of our visits;         • Providing opportunities for student       new to our colleges, but doing this
these hold the key to our              service learning and internship           work for the green economy is. The
nation’s energy and security            activities promoting effective           time has come for colleges to embrace
future, while bringing                  government advocacy and                  a more proactive role in the emerging
family-wage jobs to                     green programs.                          green economy by driving policy,
rural America.”
                                     • Collaborating with local industry         regulation, and programs within
Frank Toda, President,                 to create faculty externships in          government and key employment
Columbia Gorge Community               government advocacy, community            sectors alike.
College, via the National              policy, and local and/or state
Wildlife Federation’s Fly-in           advocacy organizations.                   For additional resources and
program.                                                                         examples of colleges that have
                                  Conclusion                                     effectively engaged in building
                                  Great community colleges help to build         the green economy, see AACC’s
                                  great communities, opening pathways            SEED Center at
                                  to prosperity to all who wish to take          www.theseedcenter.org

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