Congressman John Tierney (D-6th Essex)approached the Labor Council recently seeking a forum with labor and community on the topic of "Green Jobs". Our distinguished represenative has co-sponsored an appropriations bill to develop jobs related to renewable energy technology that would be established here in the Northeast. Broadly envisioned, this could mean any job arising from the manufacturing or installation of energy efficient or renewable resources that could become a mainstay of our local economy. Entitled the "Clean Energy Act" (August 30, 2007), this legislation paves the way for new training programs for the realization of a "green collar" job sector in Massachusetts that could revitalize our economy and help sustain our communities' quality job needs and energy demands in the future. The congressman was quite overt in his assessment of the long-term potential for growth in this area, and in his conviction that union labor was the method to realize that potential.

More developments in this are are promised in the near future. For further information on clean energy see the MTC's Clean Energy Census at http://www.masstech.org/renewableenergy/reports/Clean-Energy-Census-Report-2007.pdf.