Over 2 billion people have been left out of the purported economic gains of the globalization process of the last decade.   The disparity between rich and poor has been increasing, and the global economic collapse has shown the strong inter-connections between developed and developing worlds.  Clean air, clean water and biodiversity necessary to life itself, continue to be undervalued, external to capitalist markets and in increasing demand by rising poulations.  Many development projects have misallocated funds and in some cases hastened the destruction of natural capital.  It is this natural capital from which all forms of capital are formed.  Yet development funding is still woefully inadequate to meet current and growing needs.  Subsidies, tariffs and taxes have distorted economies, and have kept resource allocation from achieving sustainable, renewable or even rejuvenating consumptive levels.

Approximately half of the world’s species are concentrated in the rural tropics on less than ten percent of the planet.  Uniquely, much of the porest regions are also some of the most biologically diverse (Madagascar and parts of North Carolina are examples).  These natural systems are critical to a healthy and functioning planet and fundamental to our continued existence.  Yet, their increasing rate of loss is directly correlated with increased resource consumption and population growth.  The 5th World Parks Congress (Durban, 2003) made following supporting recommendations:

“the need to engage the people who reside in our around protected areas and guarantee the equitable benefits from these resources; to better value these resources for their ecosystem services, and contribution to poverty eradication and sustainable development; and to provide practical tools, training and resources for their managers.”

These communities represent a model for the future—the need to develop in an ecologically sound manner and ability of societies to learn to live “within the park.”

In rural, North Carolina communities the effects of globalization on can be seen in the loss of jobs in textile, furniture and other manufacturing industries, the increase in illegal migrant workers and the dramatic changes in our landscapes and communities, from hog parlors, to urban sprawl.  Concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few, consumer demand for cheap goods and the continuous search for cheap labor, comparative advantage and economies of scale have left both the environment and people on the sidelines “of this race to the bottom.”  Many rural farm communities have been impacted negatively by global trade policies, agricultural subsidies and tariffs, dumping of product at below production costs, unfair trade and “liberalized” markets.  These communities are often found close to biologically diverse resources and in turn are closely dependent on them.

Radical changes are needed to bring the policies of our government, international trade organizations, investors and consumers in line with principles of sustainable livelihoods.  According to the United Nation’s Development Program,

“A sustainable livelihood system can only be understood and promoted if the matrix of interactions between governance, policy, science/technology and investment/finance is approached in an integrated manner, and used to augment what local people already do well and the assets to which they have access. The reality is that livelihood systems comprise a complex and diverse set of economic, social and physical strategies.” (http://www.undp.org/sl/)

To support and promote these systems, an equally diverse group of institutions are required. No one organization can fulfill all these complex functions, and new models for public-private partnerships will be required to build the needed systems that focus less on specific outcomes, than more importantly, on self-perpetuating, growing and dynamic connections that blend various “values” critical to sustainable livelihoods. No better model exists than that of institutions of higher learning, and those organizations closely aligned or that have developed out of them.  For these reasons, the following goals are proposed. 

Goals of the Working Group:

The primary goal of the Working Group is to increase debate and dialogue on how to create and promote sustainable livelihoods and the institutions that support them.  The definition of sustainable livelihoods will be based on that promulgated by The Department for International Development, UK.  Focus of the Working Group will be on those communities living around important, biologically diverse regions of the planet.  More developed, rapidly growing and industrializing urban areas may benefit from these models, particularly from an eco-regional, bio-mimicry or “living in the park” approach based on these natural areas.  In addition, much may be learned from urban populations adaptation to issues of resource scarcity, density and social justice.  Because of the impact of globalization and our interconnected relationships, the Working Group will promote education of consumers and other decision-makers on the importance of these biologically diverse resources, the need for sustainable livelihoods and how each of us affects these communities through our consumptive habits and purchasing decisions.

Finally, The Forest Foundation has been approached by UNDP’s Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and many other conservation and development organizations to assist their field projects in enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods.  Together with other organizations in the Triangle, it is hoped that a system of resources and services in education, training and consulting can be developed to support these field projects. The Foundation has also been asked to assist in developing curriculum and training modules on sustainable livelihoods for the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University.  This poses a unique opportunity to develop a program to not only help and support the planet’s most critical ecosystems, but to provide a training system that can give students and faculty experience and opportunities to “test” or put into practice models in sustainable livelihoods.  Long-term, we hope to build relationships with educational facilities and entrepreneurial infrastructure to build truly sustainable service systems.

To fulfill its goals, the Working Group proposes three objectives:

1. the sponsorship of lectures, meetings, conferences, research and publications in the field of sustainable livelihoods;

1. to promote new and innovative multi-disciplinary, public-private sector models to address these issues, through academic curriculum and training; and

1. to create a system of resource centers and virtual networks throughout the world to support sustainable livelihoods and “green business” enterprises, to support and promote the next generation of social and environmental entrepreneurs.

Protocol for Membership:

1)                  A letter is required from all possible Members and Organizations stating their interest in participation;

2)                  Attendance at meetings, conferences or lectures;

3)                  Input and review of draft and finished publications of the Working Group;

4)                  Assistance in identifying Board members and/or funding sources.

Resources:

Stone, R. The Nature of Development: A report from the rural tropics on the quest for sustainable economic growth.  New York: Knopf, 1992.

Millard, E. “Business Planning for Environmental Enterprises: A Manual for Technical Staff,” Washington, D.C.:  Conservational International, 2003.

Bovarnick, A. and Gupta, A. “Local Business for Global Biodiversity Conservation: Improving the Design of Small Business Development Strategies in Biodiversity Projects,” New York: UNDP Global Environmental Facility, 2003.

http://www.usaidmicro.org/know_Management/BDS/

http://www.snhu.edu/Southern_New_Hampshire_University/Academics/MDI_Home/MDI_Course_Descriptions.html

http://www.springfieldcentre.com/about.html

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/OPPORTUNITIES/GRANTS/DEVMARKETPLACE/0,,contentMDK:20094517~pagePK:180691~piPK:174492~theSitePK:205098,00.html

http://www.seepnetwork.org/bds.htm

http://www.usaid.gov/economic_growth/egat/eg/tech-enterprise/emdap.htm#program

Institute of International Education (IIE). Contact Leslie B. Anderson, EMDAP Director, Institute of International Education, 1400 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005-2403; phone (202) 326-7704; Fax: (202) 326-7698;

http://www.livelihoods.org/SLdefn.html

http://www.sustainable.org/

http://www.eco-index.org/add/online-form.cfm

http://www.ra.org/programs/cg/index.html

http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/KI/cse/

Members:

John Marc Dreyfors, President, The Forest Foundation (it’s lonely)

Member Organizations:

The Forest Foundation, Inc.

Forests of the World, LLC

Carolina Biodiesel, LLC

Greenway Transit Services, LLC

Possible Member Organizations:

Organization for Tropical Studies

Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University

Student International Discussion Group, Duke University

Institute for Environmental Policy  Solutions, Nicholas School of the Environment

Center for Sustainable Enterprise, Kenan-Flagler School of Business, UNC-CH

Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Kenan-Flagler School of Business, UNC-CH

The Rural Economic Development Center, Raleigh, NC

Net Impact Chapters of Kenan Flagler Business School and Fuqua Business School

The Ecozoic Society

Ashoka

Social Venture Network

The Crafts Center, Washington, DC

Aid To Artisans

Handmade in America/Handmade Institute

Program in Sustainable Agriculture, Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro, NC

This is exciting to see so many of you and to hear such good ideas.  We have everything we need to solve these problems and there is great evidence of leadership in this room by the turnout.

My name in Marc Dreyfors and wear a number of hats, am President of The Forest Foundation, and Manager of several green businesses, Carolina Biodiesel, Greenway Transit and built a biodiesel plant over in east Durham in an old petroleum site.  We have employed over 40 at risk youth part-time, training them in green jobs, and feel this has been our contribution to the community.  However, I feel we absolutely most change the language of what we are trying to achieve, not promoting jobs for young people but creating incentives for them to stay in school, and get an education that will help them succeed in their careers and become better citizens in our community.  Right now attitude is everything, and I see the effect of placing pressure on kids to make money often by parents spoils a sense of wonder, creativity and fun that young people need to have, because life often has the effect of dimming such expressions of youth.

A lot of the ideas I will be presenting are on our website:

www.TheForestFoundation.org

I want to recognize the work of OWED in getting the EPA grant for Brownfields Assessments in NE Central Durham.  Our site is in the Angier Pettigrew corridor and funding has helped in moving these properties towards redevelopment.  The EPA grant also funded Durham Tech.s training program and the use of our site as an incubator and  place for hands-on training. This is an enormously successful program and a national model.  Expanding this program to include other green jobs is what is needed.

I want to step back a moment and put things in perspective and address this issue of language.  What can government do for us?  This is the core of what we are asking here tonight.  I would say that government can’t do a lot, the Federal government is bankrupt, the City is cutting left and right, and the future looks bleak as we have vilified taxes.  Times are tough and likely to get tougher as we have seen with the financial meltdown.  The banks aren’t lending, so we must get a reality check on our expectations of what government can do.  Don’t expect government funding to be consistent, nor  should we be asking the government to subsidize business.  This means we have to become more self-sufficient as a community, find systems of keeping money in our community.

We also need to be speaking a common language.  The Obama Administration ruled this week that Carbon is an air pollutant, affecting human health and can be regulated without Congress’ approval.  This is a game changer, along with what is being decided on in Copenhagen, it is guaranteed that energy will be more expensive.  This is regressive, impacting low income, minority communities, as they spend a higher percentage of their income on energy.  Thus, we need to be activists to make sure that policies are developed to offset this.  We absolutely need more expensive energy.  Why? Because of market externalities.  The cost of burning fossil fuels is not included in the price of our stuff, thus we over consume energy intensive goods and services that are destroying our environment.  This does not bode well for our near future and our children.  We absolutely have to change the way our society values things. Additionally, higher prices for energy will drive innovation to develop new sustainable and renewable technologies that will employ millions as they are ramped up.  This is critical to our country and communities future.

These ideas of building local economies primarily come from Michael Shuman, who spoke at Duke and was just down at Star, NC at a textile plant revitalization opening, and who wrote the Smallmart Revolution and has promoted local business alliances called BALLE groups.  He decrees the failed policies of local government to assist luring big businesses at the expense of local, small businesses.  This must change. We need to keep our money in our communities increasing the times those dollars exchange hands, or “multiplys.”  Increasing multipliers should be at the heart of our policies.

Finally, what we need to be talking about is not Green jobs, but green business as this is the place where jabs are created.  Supporting small local businesses should be the order, not necessarily training.  Most of the green jobs will absorb already existing trades and skills. However, we need all jobs to be green, in other words, we need everyone to be environmentally literate and live more sustainable livelihoods.  In doing so, we will save money, live healthier lives, create better communities and save the planet!

What are the Future Jobs and what do we need to see them?

1) Energy efficiency and weatherization

We need better policies that incentivize property owners to upgrade, including financing mechanisms, training in energy audits and installations

2)  Local distributed energy production, such as PV, wind, geothermal and biofuels/biomass

We need to stop subsidizing fossil fuels and tax them using the funds to capitalize these types of projects.  The multipliers are enormous, reducing flight of capital out of our communities.

3)  Green Transportation

This is an enormous job creator and during a recent Fleet Managers meeting here in Durham, green was the hot topic- use of alternative fuels and new hybrid and alt. fuel vehicles.  We need trained managers and mechanics.

4)  Resource Management

Our communities need better management of our natural resources, that means changing codes and laws, properly valuing these resources and giving more resources to those who manage them.

5)  Local foods and value adding

This is an enormous national and local success story.  Buoyed by problems and concerns of pesticides, Frankenfoods, carbon footprint, self-sufficiency, etc., local farmers markets and organic farms have taken off.  We need to be growing our own food, eating more healthy and value adding this food locally.  Small grants and lending programs, community kitchens and training will maximize this “bang for buck.”

What is our biggest struggle?

1)     Capital, we need a local lending system and have been promoting a voluntary lending system to mitigate our environmental footprint. This money could be used to lower interest rates and leverage traditional lending institutions.

2)     Stabilization of energy prices, everything is tied to energy and its hard for a small business to write a business plan will any credibility when prices fluctuate so dramatically.  This can be done by creating a floor for energy prices and local taxes of vehicles and businesses with high fuel consumption, rewarding/incentivising efficiency.  This is what they have done in California.

3)     Durham needs visioning forums like this one regularly, we need better communication between organizations, liaison and collaboration.

4)      We need local policies and taxes that improve multipliers, and support local small businesses, not big corporations

5)     Grant writing, we need help in writing grants ourselves and so does the many government offices.  Lots of funds are available to transform our society and communities, but we can’t keep up with deadlines or the extensive RFPs

6)     Changes in State legislation that will allow communities and cities to innovate

Finally, we need leadership, less politics and turf battles and more collaboration between both public and private sectors and between each other.  The time is now and this is nothing less than a revolution!  We have what it takes here in this room, off the shelf technology with some old-fashioned “lets solve this problem together” know how.

Thank you

As Dr. Healy pointed out at Mayor Bell’s visioning for the Obama Administration’s jobs creation Forum, “Green infrastructure, like bike paths and green space that the Enor River ASsociation promotes, may be an excellent way to promote local, small business and youth employment.” (Dec. 9, 2009)

Green infrastructure is different than green technologies. Green infrastructure is an umbrella for cropland, parks, trails, local and state parks, rangeland, rails-to-trails, private and public forests and water amenities like wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams and related activities like fishing, hiking, canoeing, marinas, etc.  Durham has a bigger challenge than most because it is a good size city located in a very small county in terms of land area. So planning to create accommodate residential, office, commercial uses as well as green infrastructure is more complex here. But one thing in Durham’s favor is that more than a third of the land area is already set aside in watershed including rivers, lakes, cropland, etc.

People in economic development need to take note that places with great green technology are associated with seven to eight times more job growth in metro areas and water amenities translate into 13 to14 times more jobs. Hopefully people in visitor centric economic development already sensed that. Another thing the report makes clear to economic developers who often bemoan taxes is that lower taxes may mean more population but not job creation or income growth. It also indicates that the old strategy of tax-based job attraction may only attract population but not employment or income.  (From Dec. 2009, Durham Convention and Visitors Board)

A Community Supported Energy Project, or CSE, is a lot like a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture.  Across the country, CSA’s have ”sprouted up” as Americans realize that locally produced food has an array of benefits, including better tasting, healthier and lower impacting food, keeping money local and supporting farm systems that stem suburban sprawl and provide food security in the face of negative impacts of globalization.  Folks can support CSA’s in a couple of ways: 1) they can prepay at the beginning of the season and receive a weekly or monthly supply of produce either delivered to their door or to a central pick up point, or 2) they can buy produce weekly or bi-weekly at local farmers markets.  Some CSA’s let folks come out to the farm and help pick and manage the farm.  Community Gardens work very similarly.  These “Loca-vores,” local eaters, are making a huge contribution to reducing our carbon footprint, selecting and promoting foods that don’t travel thousands of miles, consuming copious amounts of fossil fuels to get to our plate.  If you buy organic, or permaculture-based food, you have traveled a long way down the road towards sustainability.

The same goes with “consumption” of energy.  If we consume our energy from local sources, we become less reliant on foreign sources of fossil fuels, spend less energy getting it to us and keep more money in the local economy.  “Local energy” comes in a variety of forms, like: the wind, water, solar and biodiesel.  A CSE could be supported similar to a CSA with folks buying into a CSE each year as a member, similar to NCGreenPower, offsetting or mitigating their energy consumption with the investment and purchase of local energy equivalents, or simply buying the energy good or service directly.  Biodiesel can be made from virgin oils produced by local farmers, or made from waste oil.  Obviously some technology is needed and most likely it may come some distance before you can set it up or use it.  But it is likely soon that manufacturers of these green, alternative energy technologies may be setting up shop nearby, as demand grows, creating more jobs and employing people.  In NC alone $15 billion flees the State to pay for energy.  Think if that money was spent in your community and how that would change the landscape.  Think of the cleaner environment!

Examples of Local CSE’s are:

Piedmont Biofuels and Carolina Biodiesel and its local restaurant to waste veggie oil to biodiesel production.

Eno River Grist Mill

SAS 1.7MW Solar array

Durham County Landfill Methane to Energy

A Community Supported Energy (CSE) Project and Incubator Space for the Arts and the Emerging Green Economy– a project of The Forest Foundation

The North Wing of Goldenbelt Manufacturing in Durham, NC is the last building in need of redevelopment, connecting us to our historical roots in the tobacco industry. It sits directly in the midst of a Hope VI federal redevelopment area and has received funding for: Brownfields assessments in the corridor along Angier and Pettigrew (one of the Triangle’s few industrial areas); and green jobs training through Durham Tech.  The South Wing has already been redeveloped by Scientific Properties. This 360Kft2 factory was built in the early 1900’s to print and produce packaging for the cigarettes, and is a robust complex, with acres of open floors, outside parking areas and green space. The goal of our “Green is Goldenbelt Project” to utilize this site to the betterment of our community and change the redevelopment model–  requiring expensive rents and gentrification to pay back investors and bank loans, to one that will create jobs, train and redevelop using green techniques while preserving some of Durham’s history for those organizations that have made Durham a better place to live.  The focus will be around construction of the two sustainable energy projects: biomass and photovoltaic (PV), that will be core tenants, providing tax credits, generating income, reducing operating costs, and use the process of site redevelopment to train and employ our East Durham community.

The first step is to create a series of investment and redevelopment groups:

I.  Site and building redevelopment;

II.  Biomass Cogeneration system in the old boiler room area;

III. Commercial PV System for the roof;

IV. Green Jobs Training program in deconstruction, redevelopment and alternative energy and energy efficiency installations; and

V. Tenant/co-owner coaltion to utilize the space as it is redeveloped.

The goal is to have the two clean energy projects as anchor tenants, generating income and subsidizing portions of the redevelopment project.  This would tie nicely into The Forest Foundation’s effort at developing a “Community Supported Energy” Cooperative and its work in Green Jobs Training.  Redevelopment of the roof and boiler room area may happen first, and the rest of the building can be more gradual, allowing the work generated to become a training opportunity for green jobs.  To gain historic tax credits the newer 1950’s annex that was constructed will need to be separated from the main building.  Interest in remodeling this space to double its capacity and purchasing and leasing this side building exists.

The overall Porject will require excellent design, planning, coordination, quite a bit of political leverage with the goal to create a national model for green redevelopment and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building.  LEED should not be just for expensive developments, but be made affordable and available to those organization promoting principles of community sustainability.  This building has the potential to support local non-profits and incubate the new green economy in Durham

Building and Neighborhood Redevelopment

The Goldenbelt Manufacturing Company was founded by Julian Carr in 1900 as a textile factory that processed cotton into thread and produced pouches for Bull Durham tobacco. Carr’s operation of Golden Belt was innovative and adaptive: as the demand for tobacco bags waned, the plant produced thread and cloth for other uses and printed paper packaging for cigarettes. Operations ceased in 1996. A track record has been established with the successful redevelopment of the South Wing and adjacent residential and commercial properties by Scientific Properties, (See:www.goldenbeltarts.com).  Greenfire and the American Tobacco complex has also shown that these types of mixed use histroic redevelopments can make business sense and be besutiful additions to a downtown community renewal.

The site offers enormous potential for investors to receive large tax credits for revitalization, as well as those available for renewable energy and pollution reduction.  Current tax credits include:

1) 30% State and 35% Federal tax credit for all alternative energy projects;
2) qualifies for a 20% state and 20% federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit;
3) projects that reduce air or water pollution or waste disposal pay no property taxes;
4) NC Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturer Incentive allows a 25% credit for
installation and equipment cost;
5) State Energy Office is offering low interest loans and grants for alt. energy;
6) Accelerated depreciation is also available for plant equipment and property
7) Equipment may be donated to a non-profit at the end of its investment cycle for additional deductions.

Other grants and credits available are:

American Resource and Recovery Act (ARRA), Sustainable Communities Grant, Pathways Out of Poverty Green Job Training; Dept. of Energy: Community Development Block Grants, Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing for energy efficiency for commercial and residential; Dept. of Treasury: New Market Tax Credits; and Goldenleaf.

The Goldenbelt site is in the middle of a Hope VI, HUD revitalization project and a new Historic redistricting area, which are making the property rapidly increase in value. The desire of community leaders is to bring jobs to the area, entry-level manufacturing and construction jobs for the under-employed rather than high tech or clerical. The goal is reduce redevelopment costs by using existing infrastructure and equipment: to revitalize, reuse and reduce overall impacts. The site boasts:

•rail spur and switch, and quick access to the Durham Freeway;
•storage tanks with containment barriers;
•lots of paved and open land 7 acres grandfathered and over 300 parking spaces;
•sewer, water, electrical, natural gas;
•thousands of square feet of high ceiling warehouse and out buildings;
•loading docks, parking, gated entry;
•existing markets for renewable energy and tenants;
•Zoned I2, residential neighborhood in need of redevelopment;
•Adjacent to downtown, Good Work, Trosa and SEEDS.

To purchase the North Wing and redevelop it as a whole would cost in the range of $40 million, $3 million for the old mill (150Kft2) and $2.5 million for the newer addition (45K ft2) and $35 million for the redevelopment (approximately $30 million was used for the South Wing).  Adjacency to a residential area, Commercial/Office zoning, truck traffic, waste-water discharge and air emissions permitting issues may be obstacles to development.

Biomass Cogeneration

A unique aspect of this project will be its use of a biomass cogeneration boiler to produce steam and electricity from yard waste, or other biomass, like wood chips, to drive the building’s energy needs.  The heat will boil water into steam, which will then drive a turbine to produce electricity.  These hyper efficient and super clean systems are found around the world in dense urban environments, where they can achieve maximum efficiencies.  A pre-processing deck will be needed for this site, with a delivery truck feeding a hopper, and all the process contained indoors.  Steam and electricity from this $5-10 million dollar project can be used for the building as well as adjacent properties, with a impact even on downtown and Hope VI redevelopment communities.  Heating and cooling pipes can be run in a radius of close to a mile to both commercial and residential buildings, ideally new construction but buildings can be retrofitted as well without huge cost.  Importantly, new super efficient steam absorption systems can also be used to help cool buildings in the summer.

The Goldenbelt site already has steam pipes in some of the buildings for winter heat, and electrical needs may be provided by biomass, PV and/or any other sustainable energy systems developed.  Finally, excess electrical may be sold into the NCGreenPower program, which can generate a higher Kw-hr value.  There are a number of variables for biomass production, including optimum size for economies of scale, but there are a number of players who have been looking for an ideal site to implement a Durham project.  Importantly, the facility already has a rail spur and processing area with truck delivery access for potential feedstock, and the boiler room is enormous.  Downsides are NIMBY perceptions of biomass as being dirty.

PhotoVoltaic Roof System

A photovoltaic manufacturer and investment group will pay to install the system, lease roof space, sell energy at a reduced cost to the facility, generating immediate capital for the project.  With over 100,000 ft2 of roof surface and double that with potential parking area, the project has the potential to produce close to 2 Megawatts of energy, a $10 million dollar project. The investment group is willing to pay for a portion of the cost of roof repair, which is needed first.  This project may work well in collaboration with a low cost Green Roof system, using vegetation or high reflectivity modern materials.  A parking roof system with PV panels on it can be made attractive, reduce thermal heating, provide shade and reduce storm water runoff, capturing rainwater in cisterns.  Each of these projects will allow training in three very hot fields in the green economy and will require many years of employment to complete. These energy projects will increase the long-term sustainability and rate of return of the overall redevelopment project, with enormous tax credits to the investors, accelerated depreciation and opportunity to donate the equipment to a non-profit at the end of the payback for additional tax deductions.

Green Jobs Training and Green Business Incubator

Efforts are being made by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Black, Brown, Green Alliance (BBGA) to develop a joint Green Jobs Training system using ARRA funding. Long-term sustainability/self-sufficiency of this project requires focus less on green jobs training and more on Green Business Development. The Goldenbelt project is large enough to offer multiple year employment and training in emerging green economy fields, with the end result of space being available as a green business incubator, where multiple businesses can share in overhead and synergies with a lower cost leases partially subsidized by the clean, alternative energy projects. Other projects that can be developed on site at Goldenbelt are a Green Café and Green House using heat from the biomass facility to produce vegetables and herbs year round, recycling water and providing food and training for a restaurant in the complex.

“Workbench” Arts Space

Over a dozen non-profits in Durham are in need of reasonably priced space for offices and operations.  Rapid downtown redevelopment has made much of the real estate too expensive for the nascent arts community.  Many of the organizations outreach to low-income minority children and serve an incredibly important function in the community.  Examples are the Scrap Exchange, YIKES!, etc.

The building redevelopment may not be able to rent the entire space to non-profits or nascent green businesses and currently has several larger businesses/organizations in it, including Duke University and a high-tech. electronics company.  However, the return on loans and investment and revenue produced by the clean energy projects can determine the amount of space available for subsidy.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Obama Admin. budget policies make a number of basic, false assumptions, which are reflected in the “Green Jobs Report”: One, that the economy will tank so badly that people will forget the need to transition to a “green economy,” shifting into a survival mode mentality (this is reflected in how low “environment” ranks in polls of Americans and the back lots full of unsold Priuses). Two, that big “T”echnology of renewables will dominate, when in fact, smaller technology reflected in simple weatherization projects, and small scale, sustainable ag. and distributed energy systems provide large “bangs for the buck.” And three, that the whole plan reeks of the failure to recognize the “elephant in the room,” over our hyper consumption under rising populations and rapidly destabilizing natural systems. Simply switching our consumption to green products fails to address the throughput issue. Lifestyle must be addressed, and indeed may be central, which begs the question of inherent traditional American “freedoms” as well as inequities.

Axiomatic of the problem of the Green Jobs Report is the definition of “green jobs.” UNEP’s definition is revealing: jobs that “contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality,” that “help to protect and restore,” “reduce” and” minimize” or “avoid” “consumption” of energy or “generation of pollution,” and that create positions that are just and fair. But notice these verbs, “restore” and “preserve” are not “conserve” or “sustain,” which implies setting aside and putting back into the system, regenerating that which has been deteriorated. Add in “fairness,” “diversity” and “equity” and that’s a tall order, given the massive market externalities, misperceptions of ecological systems and level of human induced degradation! There is absolutely nothing fair about free market, neo-liberal capitalism, which begs the question, “what kind of socio-economic system are we talking about?”

“Incubating quality green jobs” requires a strong public mandate, leadership, coordination and setting up the right incentives, identifying existing barriers, actors, “financing interventions” and the involvement of community groups and unions. This is a tall order requiring vision, leadership and unity of purpose of our elected officials. Establishing within each community Sustainability Advisory Boards and a Council or cabinet level Director of Sustainability “ensures that mandates become an organizing principle.” According to The Report, Green jobs policy should be “to leverage the unique capabilities and resources of the private sector to maximize the creation of green jobs,” removing impediments to private investment. Erratic treatment of the production tax credits has been identified as causing problems with “flagging investment.” Tax credits may provide better incentives if more of the credit can be converted to an upfront grant.

“Green jobs generate 2.7 times as many jobs as fossil fuel spending.” An illusion reflected in the document quote “by making wind power competitive with fossil fuel,” shows such a misalignment of priorities. We don’t want wind power or alternative energy to become “cheap as fossil fuel,” but want fossil fuel to reflect its true market, social and environmental costs. Cheap energy should not be the goal of our nation’s energy policy, as the results are inefficiency, suburban sprawl, increased pollution, etc. Yes, improved technology and competition will drive alternative energy costs down, but will take time. Replication, scalability and financing are needed. Some national “green market priority board” may help in ramping up technologies (i.e. thin film PV). Because of monopolies, corruption and market failures, waiting for not so “free” markets may keep good technology from achieving rapid implementation. Higher prices for these technologies will drive investment and innovation.

In ARRA, there is $500 million for research and job training projects that prepare workers for careers in “energy efficiency” and “renewable energy.” What is blatantly missing is the need for the promotion of sustainable agriculture and local produce development. This has such massive multipliers and economic and security value, I am surprised it was left out. Energy efficiency will likely absorb a fair number of entry-level trade and blue collar workers, but this presumes that folks can afford the upgrades to their homes and businesses. Renewables are closely tied to fossil fuel prices and right now there is little incentive to invest and zero capital for required financing.

The Green Jobs Report also presumes an easy transition to high tech, well paying jobs. But initially, most jobs will be entry or low level jobs. For instance, recycling that does not “value-add” is a commodity business. We send our waste to China to be remanufactured into higher value goods, which we then buy back. The carbon footprint is large due to under priced energy and suppression of the Yuan, thus making labor and material costs cheap. That we can create a larger middle class from green jobs is hugely optimistic. Our economy is teetering on another depression. Expectations are for “a sizeable wage premium (10-20 percent),” optimistic as contractors for energy efficiency, one of the pillars of the stimulus, are not high tech. positions. According to The Report, “Green jobs typically earn better wages,” but analyses from the workforce shows a lack of diversity, and “that they are more likely to be held by whites…men, and located in suburban and rural areas,” leaving out minorities and inner city residents.

My concern is that our expectations are being set too high based on the paradigm we are trying to supplant. Without the shift in perception and focus on transformative community structures, through incentives and disincentives, we will not achieve the equity and fairness most of us are expecting from the new, green economy.

I like the term “green jobs movement” as it is not just about creating fair and well paying jobs in the Green Economy. That, in fact, it is about building green communities, using the money earned to support other green businesses, and promoting healthful living and broader community development linkages. Some attention must be placed on building “green communities,” not just green jobs, to reinforce systems for these structural adjustments to really take hold and improve our behavior.

The hiring of Van Jones, President of Green for All who promotes “respect” of the environment and a Clean Energy Corps, is a big plus as he is smart and has spent time in the trenches and on the front lines. We need to rotate folks from the field to the classroom and to leadership and back again, building an apprenticeship, “teach the teacher” systems to implement transformational change rapidly and with efficacy. More case studies and their promulgation are needed. The document provides examples from LA where the Apollo Alliance has helped in workforce redevelopment using apprenticeship models. Training costs (free to participants) are paid for by less than 10% of public funds and by unions and contractors, through labor/management partnership agreements. Focus is on young entry-level workers, and on older, more experienced workers needing skill upgrades. Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) is a 10 week training program, with a certificate and helps place graduates in local green businesses and provides follow up support for three years. Solar Richmond, introduces basic construction training with an extra 2 week solar skills module. Mile High Youth Corps focuses on young adults 16-24 to teach job and life skills, creating crews of 8-10 and is supported by YouthBuild. Work is paid and provides on the jobs training, and is accompanied by Corps-to Career classes for job search and preparedness.

“Investments in efficiency are much less centralized than those in renewable energy.” The Report promotes investments in Green Retrofits, energy efficiency and upgrading home equipment with better than “energy star” (since the downgrading of EPA’s classification by the Bushies) compliance equipment. Paying for it is the challenge. The Weatherization Assistance Program will allow an average investment of up to $6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades and will be available for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level – or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. What is needed are loan circles, using energy savings from these upgrade to help offset costs. The Report suggests using energy bills for repayments, tying the investments to the property (not the property owner), and allowing transfer to new tenants. Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) solves the financing problem with an innovative program: coordinating funds with banks and contractors (their transaction costs are paid for by?). Fundamentally, changes are needed in building codes nationally, if energy efficiency is to take hold.

It is expected that the $6 billion in loan guarantees will leverage over $75 billion in investment, and will build on guarantees managed by already existing DOE and DOA programs. Establishing a Clean Energy Finance Authority (CEFA) is also an excellent idea. (However, loan guarantees require $25K expenditure upfront, without being guaranteed the loan, not much of a guarantee?) According to The Report, an important thing is “to reduce the complexity and increase the flexibility of CEFA applications.” Focus must be on small businesses, which are responsible for the majority of employment growth. Another local funding mechanism is Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, or zero interest bonds that provide tax credit to holders.

The case study from Washington State shows an important protocol needing replication: first, they identify high demand green industries; second, their potential for creating high quality jobs; third, a Green Industry Skill Panel (GISP) is convened; and finally, a Green Collar Job Training Fund is created and money administered according to the findings of one, two and three. “The fund would distribute competitive grants to organizations. with proven success in implementing workforce training,… targeting adults and youth in families below twice the poverty line, dislocated workers and entry level workers.”

Our community in the Triangle is probably one of the more progressive communities in the nation with regards to “education for sustainable development.”  Focus is on localism, small scale, distributed, appropriate technology, closed loop engineering, synergistic, socio-economic sustainable livelihood interactions. Most activities are outside the traditional academic realm and some of the more advanced work is actually being done by small NGOs, individual activists/educators and smaller institutions.  Central Carolina Community College may have one of the more sophisticated, small “t” sustainable technology programs in the country, focusing on sustainable ag., green building and alternative energy.  Sadly, major institutions are behind in developing curriculum and training systems that reflect real “sustainability” (however that may be defined), and are having a hard time moving past old paradigms focused on science, technology and hyper intellectualizing.  Fundamentally, market externalities, human psychology and a lack of moral and spiritual connection are conspiring to keep real, practical “sustainable” (shall we dare say, “rejuvenating”) educational systems from evolving rapidly.  Though we are still having a hard time with the words that will shape our future, the Fair Trade movement along with traditional EE educators have been in the trenches and have been miracle workers in shifting perception, and slowly we are starting to see this new paradigm spreading into our cultural fabric.

One of my Old Testament professors cautioned me, “don’t let your schooling get in the way of your education.”

Good Luck,

Marc Dreyfors (MEM ‘90)
Manager,
www.GreenwayRides.com
Manager,
www.CarolinaBiofuels.com
President,
www.TheForestFoundation.org
Manager,
www.ForestsoftheWorld.com
Board Member,
Env. Educators of NC (2005-07)
Alumni Council,
Nicholas School at Duke University (2005-10)
1505 Angier Ave.
Durham, NC  27701
(919)957.1500

Shelby Gull Laird wrote:

From: Noah Feinstein nfeinstein@wisc.edu
================================================
I'm working on an international collaborative project about Education
for Sustainable Development, and my somewhat imposing task is to
summarize the state of ESD in the USA.

It's an exciting project (details below), but because I work mostly in
science education, I have a lot of catching up to do. I know that much
of the most important ESD work happens at the state and regional
level, and would really the report to reflect this. It is important to
me that the final report goes beyond sweeping statistics and captures
some of the depth and diversity of local efforts.
I would be very grateful if you could help orient me to ESD projects
and initiatives in your respective states. Almost any information is
useful, but I'm particularly interested in: success stories and local
challenges, influential state-level legislation or policy documents,
and any trends that you've observed or measured in your work.
Qualitative or quantitative, formal or anecdotal, references,
contacts, weblinks - you name it, I would love to get it. I will not
cite you if you would prefer not to be cited, and off-the-record
comments are welcome too, as they will help me get a sense of the territory.

Thanks so much for your help! Please call or email if you have any
questions or would like to know more about the project.

Sincerely,

Noah Feinstein
Assistant Professor,
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Department of Agronomy
University of Wisconsin-Madison
nfeinstein@wisc.edu
(608) 262-6288

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
I've been asked to represent UW-Madison in the International Alliance
of Leading Educational Institutions, a group that includes member
institutions in Brazil, China, Singapore, Denmark, the UK, Canada etc.
 Each year, IALEI produces a report on an education-related topic of
broad international interest. This year, we are working on "education
for sustainable development," a topic chosen by the Danish team. The
report is intended to highlight international similarities and
differences, synthesize relevant research, and draw attention to best
practices or generalizable findings. Each representative has been
asked to prepare a report that addresses the five issues: (1) the
overall conception of ESD and its place in national education plans;
(2) The role of education in relation to the challenges of sustainable
development and climate change respectively; (3) the relationship
between ESD and climate change education; (4) the presence of ESD in
the curriculum, in relation to traditional disciplines and otherwise;
(5) the realities of ESD in classroom context, especially the possible
role of ESD in promoting pedagogical innovation. Whew! As you will
have noticed, there is an emphasis on K-12 (formal) education. We're
allowed to go beyond that focus, as long as we don't ignore it.
================================================

Green Events

Grow TFF’s service of Green Event Planning through development and implementation of a marketing plan. Help Greenway Transit expand it’s green transportation service to area businesses, universities and organization’s. Develop marketing, advertising materials and workshop schedule. Arrange meetings, and collect and maintain a resource list. A small stipend is available as well as commission based on experience and background, may develop into part-time paid position. Duration of 3-6 months.

Fair Trade

TFF and Forests of the World need support to organize its fair trade crafts inventory, working in the warehouse and dividing sample sets from regular inventory. Additional help is needed in sales of handcrafts, through sales calls and retail and wholesale show presence. Some bookkeeping assistance and producer communication is needed. Sales commissions are available. Duration of 3 months.

Greenway Transit

Help TFF develop and implement of a franchise marketing and expansion plan for a green transportation service, looking at expansion to other markets. Research franchise system and collect and produce franchise legal documents. Rewrite business plan. Assist in development of a franchise training program manual. A small stipend and sales commissions are available, and may develop into full-time paid position. Duration of 3-6 months.

Carolina Biodiesel

Help TFF develop and implement Triangle wide marketing plan for “Community Supported Energy.” Gain and gather restaurant service contracts for waste veggie oil donation and collection. Develop brand graphic and marketing materials and implement marketing plan. Work on end of year donation letters and accounting. A small stipend and sales commissions are available. Duration of 3-6 months.

Triangle Green Fund- A Community Carbon Catalog

Help TFF create business plan for a Triangle wide, community based voluntary carbon mitigation fund for grants and loans. Assist in identification of partners and develop partnership agreements. Develop marketing materials and link with Community Supported Energy project. Identify and gather an Advisory Board. Identify funding and lending institutions. This could develop into a full-time position. A small stipend is available. Duration of 6-12 months.

Green Jobs Training

Help TFF develop and implement a community-wide, Green Jobs training system for low-income, at-risk youth and young adults. Create certificate program and curriculum, working with Durham Tech. and other educational service organizations. Develop “Train the Trainers” program, identifying resources and partner organizations. Create partnership agreements and develop training workshop schedule for after school, weekends and summer. Create self-sufficiency income generation components. This could develop into a full-time position. A small stipend available. Duration of 6-12 months.

A unique feature of The Fund is that it has the ability to create profound environmental protection through its voluntary carbon mitigation system. The Fund would establish a way for organizations and individuals to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon offsets from local sources. The Fund will then loan green businesses that provide products and services in a variety of sectors, including but not limited to: transportation, renewable energy, water conservation, energy efficiency, green space and green workforce development. This Fund will effectively internalize external costs of pollution, while instilling a sense of community, keeping money local (maximizing the economic multiplier effect), while financing the local, emerging green economy. Funding may also come from Federal and State grants to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, inabling low interest loan systems working with local governments and lending institutions.

The jobs will be created in the first year, with the expectation to maintain low overhead using existing infrastructure of partner organizations, maximizing the amount of funds redirected into the community. The multiplier effect for The Fund in employment in both direct and indirect job creation may average approximately 5 direct jobs and 20 indirect jobs per $100,000 invested/donated. With each local governmental entity in the Triangle signing on to carbon reduction, the existence of The Fund will greatly help in facilitating real and measurable goals and may become a significant player in growing the green economy.

Importantly, this model can be emulated across the State as a national system of carbon trading or pollution tax may be years from taking effect and will be national in scope, focusing resources away from our State. Environmental affects can be calculated for each of the investment sectors and using academic resources in the area, many indicators can be developed and used to track and evaluate the effectiveness of The Fund. The plan is to market to Triangle organizations with existing commitments for carbon mitigation, who are currently purchasing carbon offsets using products outside of the Triangle or the State and wish reduce their environmental and social impacts by investing locally. Self-sufficiency will be achieved through an administrative fee and interest on loans to cover Fund management. Additional funding may come from individuals and foundations wanting to provide capital for sustainable community development. This project will be a collaboration with  Good Work, The Forest Foundation and other local organizations with expertise in these fields.

The Fund will budget approximately $150K per year for 3 staff members, housed within existing non-profit organizations, with a goal of achieving a $2 million endowment (or annual, mitigation/donation flow rate) to cover its basic overhead. Roughly 90% of the funds will be available for reinvestment and grants, leveraging capital at an estimated 5 times the expected donation income. The hope is to double The Fund size within 3 years to $4 million in capital annually, increase staff and to leverage local financial institutions to take responsibility and leadership for carbon mitigation, pollution reduction and sustainable community development. Staff will provide technical assistance in reviewing mitigation equivalents as well as applications, and others will be involved in marketing and liaison as well as training and assisting financial partners. Some part-time staff borrowing from partner institutions may be required to help during certain times of the year as applications are received and selections for funding made. The Advisory Board will be responsible for final selection of grant recipients.

Triangle Green Investors Club

Another option is to establish an “investors club,” which have shown remarkable success in communities across the nation (See www.usinvestorclubs.org).  Michael Shuman, the Author of The Smallmart Revolution,  has been promoting these types of systems across the US.  Working with organizations like Plenty, and the newly forming Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) groups here in the Triangle, small to medium size business could be identified, resources found to help in business management, and business plans developed for review.  Loans and investments could be made to these organizations showing growth potential, solid management and good business plans.  The Club can work with The TGF and CSE Projects, creating and providing several tiers of capital needs and promoting more sustainable, local community development.

Many folks in the environmental community have been pushing solar hot water and PV units, however, solar hot air hands-down is more cost efficient and is an easier to install technology than anything else, except maybe CFLs and energy efficiency through insulation and home improvements.  This is a particularly viable technology for those with some sun that hits their house in the winter and for low income families.  Solar hotwater requires significant investments in pumps, plumbing and installation and is viable only for large users of water.  Instant on technology used in Europe extensively is a better plan for smaller households.  PV units are still expensive, but their prices are dropping and the ability to grid tie and receive energy credits through net metering are improving.

Folks gained insight into several styles of hot air systems and plans exist to conduct a demonstration build here at the Green Oil Campus, along with a solar hot water system to help heat waste veggie oil processing and our biodiesel production systems.  Stay turned for more events of the Ecolounge, YIKES! and The Forest Foundation’s Green Oil Campus.  Thanks goes to Sandy Smith-Nonini and her hard work in organizing the event while MK and Marc were away.