This is The Source for October 10, 2012, green jobs news every day from the BlueGreen Alliance. Don’t forget to “tell your friends” about this great resource. You can sign up here.
TOP THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FOR OCTOBER 10
Weather and Global Warming Link. A new study conducted by Yale and George Mason Universities found 74 percent of Americans believe global warming is affecting the weather, 73 percent believe it made this summer’s temperatures worse and 71 percent believe the United State’s weather has been worsening for several years.
PTC Job Losses Continue. Vestas announced it was laying off an additional 30 employees at its Brighton, Colorado blade manufacturing plant. Colorado Senator Mark Udall stated, “This latest round of layoffs should underline… the cost of politicizing the wind Production Tax Credit. My colleagues need to remember that good-paying, American manufacturing jobs are at stake when we fail to give this industry the certainty it needs to make long-term investments in its workers and the United States.”
All Aboard! Amtrak yesterday announced its ridership has been growing for the past eleven months, and that for the current fiscal year, “Amtrak has posted the highest ridership total ever for that particular month with the final month of September also expected to be a new record.”
National and International Blue-Green
OPB looks at why Congress's failure to renew the Production Tax Credit for wind energy could mean fewer jobs in the Pacific Northwest.
Bloomberg looks at why the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers at companies like Caterpillar Inc. means welders can expect good pay.
Reuters says the U.S. Commerce Department is expected to announce its final decision today regarding placing tariffs on solar panels made in China.
Slate mentions the BlueGreen Alliance’s Gearing Up report in its article discussing how manufacturing unions can “survive outsourcing and right-to-work laws.”
Honda is giving $3,000 to individuals who want to try out the natural gas-powered Civic. The Wall Street Journal has more.
Germany’s renewable energy surcharge is expected to increase 4.3 cents per kilowatt in 2013, according to Reuters.
The Guardian looks at a study that found global warming could "make washout UK summers the norm."
To the States
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Tuesday stated the opponents of Proposal 2 on collective bargaining are spreading lies.
Former Michigan Governor William Milliken announced support for Proposal 3, the ballot measure increasing the state’s renewable energy mandate to 25 percent by 2025. MLive.com has more about why the Republican governor, who served from 1969 to 1983, believes the “opportunity of renewable energy in Michigan is important enough that the 25 percent renewable policy should have the long-term certainty of Constitutional protection.”
The Vote No on Proposition 32 campaign in California filed a formal compliant with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission stating supporters failed to disclose enough information about the $8 million it paid for TV and radio spots advocating passage of the measure prohibiting union members from making voluntary payroll deductions for their union’s political activities.
KALW discusses California Proposition 39.
Blue-Green Links
Reuters: Treasury watchdog probes solar tax grant program
Forbes: Solar REITs: A Better Way to Invest in Solar [Updated]
Midwest Energy News: In Europe as in the Midwest, renewable revolutions depend on a better grid
Mercury News (CA): Who's who of rich and powerful behind Proposition 32
MLive.com (MI): Endorsement letter: Collective bargaining protects working families
NPR (MI): Mich. Unions Want Bargaining Added To Constitution
WKAR (MI): Unions Place Big Bet On 2012 Ballot