October 28, 2009

BINGHAMTON -- New York is going green to revitalize the state economy.  State leaders say it'll create hundreds of green jobs in the Southern Tier.
     “We're losing jobs.  We need to find ways to increase jobs -- and green is one of those ways the governor is looking at,” said New York State labor commissioner M. Patricia Smith.
     Smith came to Binghamton Wednesday to announce two programs to help nNew Yorkers become more green.
     The Green Jobs/Green New York Act establishes revolving loan and green jobs training programs to retrofit homes to conserve energy.  It's targeted at middleclass homeowners and small businesses.  And the homeowners and business owners would use energy savings to pay back the loans.
     The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is targeted at low-income families.  $394 million for the program is coming from the stimulus package.
     Tioga Opportunities provides weatherization work for eligible families.
     Gary Short is Tioga Opportunities’ weatherization crew leader. He demonstrated a technique he uses to see how much airflow goes through a house and where it's coming from.
     Short thinks it's pretty cool he's part of the green "phenomenon."
     “A lot of people don't really understand what it's about.  I think it's a good thing to get more money into it, get more guys hired, and try to help more people,” said Short.
     Tioga opportunities' energy services director, Guy Caroselli, says the non-profit has hired 10 people with WAP funding.
     “We’ve gone through and developed a career pathway from a laborer to an energy tech to an energy specialist to a crew leader to an auditor,” said Caroselli.
     “I the green area, things are actually hitting the ground. Jobs are actually being created, people are actually being trained,” said Commissioner Smith.
     Smith says the green initiatives will create 14,000 in the state in the next three years.
 

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