This is the second of my two applied projects. This project focuses on efforts to combine state and local sustainability policies (such as renewable electricity standards) with economic development policies to create green jobs. The first phase of the project, a report on state and local government policies in the United States, is now available. Additional presentations and reports will become available from time to time. A second part of the project, a more theoretical book on green economic development and economic thought, is described under Research on Science, Technology, and the Environment.
I am also happy to say that several of the PhD students who worked on the project are now completing dissertations related to green jobs and sustainability issues as well.
Building Clean-Energy Industries and Green Jobs (6MB; best viewed if downloaded)
Some programs may give a virus message due to the size of the file. You may want to open the text-based version
Building Clean-Energy Industries and Green Jobs text version (3MB) or the Executive Summary (4MB)
Report by states and cities (quick entry if you are interested in just one state or city)
Report to New York State Climate Action Council on climate change and jobs
The research report is independent of political affiliations, parties, and nongovernmental advocacy organizations. Research was supported by the National Science Foundation’s Program on Science and Technology Studies for the grant “The Greening of Economic Development” (SES-0947429). The grant enabled a summer training seminar led by David Hess (a professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), with support from coinvestigator Abby Kinchy (an assistant professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Eight doctoral students in the social sciences who focus on environmental, science, and technology studies were selected for participation in the seminar based on a national competition. The training seminar enabled coursework and hands-on experience for the graduate students based on interviews and documentary research for sections of this report. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Contact: David Hess hessd at rpi dot edu.