Labor Department Awards $155 Million to Support Green Jobs
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded nearly $100 million in green jobs training grants from the Recovery Act. As part of the $500 million ARRA initiative, the funds will support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others to find jobs in green industries and related occupations.
25 projects will receive grants ranging from $1.4 to $5 million; about $28 million will support projects in communities impacted by auto industry restructuring. Training activities funded through this grant program will be individually tailored based on occupations and skills identified as in demand in local areas around the country. Training programs will seek to prepare workers for a range of careers, including hybrid electric auto technicians, weatherization specialists, wind and energy auditors, and solar panel installers. See the Labor Department press release and the full list of grantees (PDF 233 KB).
In November, the Labor Department announced two other categories of grant awards totaling $55 million under the larger Recovery Act initiative: State Labor Market Information Improvement grants and Green Capacity Building grants.
The Green Capacity grants, totaling $5.8 million, will increase the training capacity of 62 current Labor Department grant recipients through a variety of strategies, and will offer training opportunities to help individuals acquire jobs in expanding green industries. The grants will help serve underserved communities.
The State Labor Market Information Improvement grants, totaling $48.8 million, will support collection and dissemination of labor market information, and will enhance the labor exchange infrastructure to provide career opportunities in clean energy industries. Grantees will be able to employ strategies that enable job seekers to connect with green job banks and help ensure that workers find employment after completing training. See the Labor Department press release and the full list of grantees (PDF 390 KB).
EIA Sees Gasoline Hitting $3 per Gallon by Summer
A slow but steady growth in U.S. gasoline consumption is expected to drive prices at the pump for regular-grade gasoline above $3 per gallon by spring or summer, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The EIA's latest "Short-Term Energy Outlook," released on December 12, projects that regular-grade gasoline prices will average $2.84 per gallon in 2010, rising to $2.94 per gallon in 2011. Retail prices for diesel fuel will also escalate, averaging $2.98 per gallon in 2010 and $3.14 per gallon in 2011.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices actually fell in December 2009, averaging only $74.50 per barrel, although prices were back up to $79 per barrel by the end of the month. The EIA expects crude oil spot prices to weaken over the next few months before regaining strength, gradually rising to $85 per barrel by the end of 2011. See the EIA's "Short-Term Energy Outlook."
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
