On November 12, I spoke as part of an expert panel about expanding green jobs, hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The panel was the first in a new series associated with the statewide initiative Our Minnesota Climate, building public awareness and engagement on climate change policy and action in Minnesota.

Interestingly, I was asked to participate just as I was diving deep into Van Jones’ book The Green Collar Economy. The timing of my read was perfect, as Jones’ research, commentary, analysis, and wisdom provided me with the preparation for the subject matter that would be discussed in the forum. Jones asserts that “Everything that is good for the planet is a job, a contract, a business opportunity.” This notion upsets the paradigm that taking care of the environment suppresses economic activity and opportunity.

You can watch the whole panel online here. I’ve also summarized some key points from my contribution in the following post.

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.

The sun is out, and Here Comes The Sun workshops are fast approaching! These free workshops will provide information about education, training and job opportunities related to renewable energy, and include activities for students. Attendees will participate in discussions about renewable energy, climate change, and economic justice, including ways that they can participate and lead in the transition to renewable energy in their own communities. At each event, a featured speaker will give a talk and have Q and A for adults and teenagers, sharing their story of work in the clean energy sector.

We’ll be holding two events: one on March 7th featuring Keith Dent, and one on March 14th featuring Bob Blake. Click through for more event details.