December 25, 2008

Ford developing U.S. version of Transit Connect van

Ford is working on an electric-powered version of its little European Transit Connect delivery van for sale in the United States.

The small commercial van should go on sale in 2010, according to the turnaround plan Ford submitted to Congress.

Ford plans to offer the electric van to commercial customers. Ford is not expected to reveal the vehicle at the North American International Auto show in Detroit next month, as has been reported, but it could debut at the Chicago auto show in February.

Ford plans to begin selling gasoline-powered versions of the roomy little Transit Connect in North America in 2009. Diesel-powered versions are popular commercial vehicles in European cities, where fuel economy and space efficiency are paramount.

Ford has shown concept versions of the Transit Connect customized for wine shops, catering companies, taxis and other uses.

The New York Times

December 9, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Where Are the New Jobs for Women?
By LINDA HIRSHMAN

Washington

BARACK OBAMA has announced a plan to stimulate the economy by creating
2.5 million jobs over the next two years. He intends to use the
opportunity to make good on two campaign promises — to invest in road
and bridge maintenance and school repair and to create jobs that
reduce energy use and emissions that lead to global warming.

Mr. Obama compared his infrastructure plan to the Eisenhower-era
construction of the Interstate System of highways. It brings back the
Eisenhower era in a less appealing way as well: there are almost no
women on this road to recovery.

Back before the feminist revolution brought women into the workplace
in unprecedented numbers, this would have been more understandable.
But today, women constitute about 46 percent of the labor force. And
as the current downturn has worsened, their traditionally lower
unemployment rate has actually risen just as fast as men's. A just
economic stimulus plan must include jobs in fields like social work
and teaching, where large numbers of women work.

The bulk of the stimulus program will provide jobs for men, because
building projects generate jobs in construction, where women make up
only 9 percent of the work force.

It turns out that green jobs are almost entirely male as well,
especially in the alternative energy area. A broad study by the United
States Conference of Mayors found that half the projected new jobs in
any green area are in engineering, a field that is only 12 percent
female, or in the heavily male professions of law and consulting; the
rest are in such traditional male areas as manufacturing, agriculture
and forestry. And like companies that build roads, alternative energy
firms also employ construction workers and engineers.

Fortunately, jobs for women can be created by concentrating on
professions that build the most important infrastructure — human
capital. In 2007, women were 83 percent of social workers, 94 percent
of child care workers, 74 percent of education, training and library
workers (including 98 percent of preschool and kindergarten teachers
and 92 percent of teachers' assistants).

Libraries are closing or cutting back everywhere, while demand for
their services, including their Internet connections, has risen.
Philadelphia's proposal last month to close 11 branches brought people
into the street to protest.

Many of the jobs women do are already included in Mr. Obama's campaign
promises. Women are teachers, and the campaign promised to provide
support for families with children up to the age of 5, increase Head
Start financing and quadruple the money spent on Early Head Start to
include a quarter-million infants and toddlers. Special education,
including arts education, is heavily female as well. Mr. Obama
promised to increase financing for arts education and for the National
Endowment for the Arts, which supports many school programs.

During the campaign, Mr. Obama also promised that the first part of
his plan to combat urban poverty would be to replicate a nonprofit
organization in New York called the Harlem Children's Zone in 20
cities across the country. The group, which works to improve the
quality of life for children and families in the Harlem neighborhood,
employs several hundred people in full- and part-time jobs. By making
good on this promise, Mr. Obama could create thousands of jobs for
women in social work, teaching and child care.

Unlike the proposal to rebuild roads and bridges, the Harlem
Children's Zone program is urban, and thus really green. If cities
become more inviting, more people will live in them — and that means
they will drive less, using less fuel. The average New Yorker's
greenhouse gas footprint is only about 29 percent as large as that of
the average American; the city is one of the greenest places in
America.

Maybe it would be a better world if more women became engineers and
construction workers, but programs encouraging women to pursue
engineering have existed for decades without having much success. At
the moment, teachers and child care workers still need to support
themselves. Many are their families' sole support.

A public works program can provide needed economic stimulus and revive
America's concern for public property. The current proposal is simply
too narrow. Women represent almost half the work force — not exactly a
marginal special interest group. By adding a program for jobs in
libraries, schools and children's programs, the new administration can
create jobs for them, too.

Linda R. Hirshman is the author of "Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women
of the World."

Make Some Green Going Green...Ten Top Green Jobs Today

by Ron Callari

Remember the old TV sit-com Green Acres, where Ava Gabor and Eddie
Albert abandoned their comfy affluent urban lifestyle for a bucolic
farm-life way of life. This raucous romp of wholesome living
juxtaposed to a backdrop of cows' utters, pigs 'a squealing and enough
manure to accent the occasional pratfall was pure slapstick comedy
that poked fun at a return to a simpler way of life!

Today, however, "going green" is more often associated with
environmental sustainability, hybrid cars, alternative fuels and ice
caps 'a melting. Today, our 'green acres' are a necessity, and no
longer a joking matter. With unemployment at an all time high, green
jobs may the option many of us need to examine to keep ahead of the
bread lines. Perhaps it's time for you to 'green' your career.

Here is my pick for the top ten green collar jobs for 2009!

Top Green Job # 10 - Eco-Tourism Jobs

Tourism is considered the largest employment sector in the world
economy, so it's no wonder that workers at all levels will become
involved in greening the industry. Ecotourism is growing at three
times the rate of the overall tourism sector itself, and demanding
more knowledgeable workers committed to sustainability. "There is
great diversity within the field," says Ayako Etaka of the
International Ecotourism Society (TIES). Green travel employees
generally work for private companies, government, public institutions
and nonprofits. But, as ecology becomes more of a mindset in today's
culture, hoteliers, restaurateurs and area attraction operators will
all be going green to attract green-thinking travelers. For those
looking to explore opportunities in this field, TIES provides
up-to-date listings of ecotourism and sustainable tourism jobs.

The International Ecotourism Society

Top Green Job #9 - Bicycle Technicians

Bicycles are an efficient means of travel, and electric bikes such as
the Urban Mover's Range are going to bridge the gap between
gas-powered and human-powered cycling. Fixing them is going to require
a new type of technician, a cross between a mechanic and an
electrician. Like automobile mechanics, their fees might become
pricey, but from the consumers' standpoint what they will saving on
gas, they'll be able to afford the upkeep and repair bills. The United
Bicycle Institute is a respected institute that boasts more graduates
working in the bicycle technician field than any other mechanics
school.

Electric Bikes

Top Green Job #8 - Organic Farming Specialist

With cutting-edge organic agriculture gaining popularity in this
country, a new type of farmer is emerging. This innovative specialist
is one who is vehemently opposed to synthetic agrochemicals. Today,
students of organic farming are going to be in heavy demand by urban
farm markets, community-supported agriculture and their local
neighbors. They'll understand the dangers of taking shortcuts, and
they'll know how to keep production and food quality at high levels.
For those that are interested, check out the Pay Dirt Farm School in
Moscow, Idaho, a non-profit educational program offering organic farm
apprenticeships.

Organic Farming

Top Green Jobs #7 - Wind Energy Developers.

Ever since T.Boone Pickens introduced us to wind power, the idea of
harnessing the wind to produce energy has slowly gaining traction.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, there is currently
a high demand for Wind Energy Developers. These are planners who
search out land for wind farms, collaborate with meteorologists on
wind assessments and coordinate projects with land owners, local
regulatory agencies and power companies. According to Chris Beck,
president of Global Recruiters of Boulder in Boulder, Colorado, this
specialty is very lucrative and garners salaries between $110-
180,000. Who knew that experts full of hot air would be worth so much
in today's workforce.
Wind Energy Developers

Top Green Jobs #6 - Environmental Engineers

Using the scientific principles of biology and chemistry to solve
environmental issues is the work of environmental engineers. Working
behind the scenes, these individuals are instrumental in limiting the
effects of acid rain, global warming, car emissions and ozone
depletion, in an effort to keep our planet from deteriorating more
than it already has. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
field of environmental engineering will grow 25 percent over course of
the next 7 years, with current median salaries of $61,000.
Environmental Engineer

Top Green Job #5 - Corporate Social Responsibility Professionals

As an emerging profession, there is no guidelines for a career path in
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), nor are there any specific
qualifications required for this field. Because it is so new,
transferable skills and knowledge from other related fields such as
environmental management are valued highly.To find a job in this
field, many larger companies publish CSR jobs on their websites. There
are also a number of indices such as FTSE4Good, the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and the Business in the Community's Corporate
Responsibility Index that list job openings in CSR.Corporate Social
Responsibility

Top Green Job #4 - iPod/ iPhone Doctors

To counter the 20th Century belief in a disposable society, there is a
growing need, particularly in a down economy to repair versus replace.
To that end, smart entrepreneurs might be interested in becoming an
iPod/iPhone Doctor. With as many MP3s and smart phones hitting the
market in just last few years, there is a great need for experts who
know how to fix our new 'lifelines' when they go on the fritz. There
is nothing more frustrating than going back to an Apple Store only to
have them pitch you on a new replacement or charge you for a hefty
repair bill. A smart electronics engineer can make a good living by
opening up a small repair shop and servicing their local community.
According to a recent CNN report, at least a dozen iPod repair shops
have sprung up in New York City, and one self taught electronic doctor
even makes house calls!

iPod / iPhone Doctor

Top Green Job #3 - Hydrologists

A hydrologist is a water expert who manages wastewater treatment,
watersheds and sewers. As fresh clean water becomes scarcer, these
technicians specialize in underground and surface water supplies that
may have become contaminated. To qualify for this type of position, a
four-year or higher degree is required in earth science, geology,
geophysics, engineering or chemistry. Employment opportunities for
hydrologists are bright, as demand is expected to continue for the
next decade. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,
hydrologists working for the federal government earned an average of
$77, 182 per year.

Hydrologists

Top Green Job #2 - Environment Refuse Processors

Restoring the sustainable potential of our planet is going to involve
the largest clean-up job in history. Refuse processors are going to
have to scour the sea beds and land fills for plastic waste that can
be reprocessed and rendered less toxic. The good news is that our
mountains of trash which at first blush is extremely hazardous can
actually become an energy goldmine, and environment refuse processors
are going to be the miners leading the charge!Environment Refuse
Processors

Top Green Job #1 - Jobs in Green Car Manufacturing.

As my number one green collar job pick, I have selected jobs in green
car manufacturing.Since the major US car manufacturers have had not
responded to changes in market conditions, millions of auto workers
may soon find themselves out of jobs. For them, I suggest searching
out the new 'green car' automakers who have had the foresight to be
proactive versus reactive.Whether you are an assembly line worker or
an executive, car manufactures who are breaking new ground in fuel
efficiency, alternate fuel selection and green designs are the ones
who will succeed in this industry in the next decade. The Smart fortwo
represents an all new type of vehicle for American drivers. This tiny
two-seater that's been a popular choice in Europe for years has come
to the US, bringing with it a small eco footprint, higher fuel
efficiency, and a trendy 'green' ride for new car buyers. Other
manufactures that have focused on hybrids, electrical and solar energy
vehicles will have more job openings as demand shifts from fossil
fuels to these new alternatives. Savvy workers who can transfer their
skills to this new manufacturing would be wise to search out these
companies now while they begin their growth spurt.
Smart fortwo auto

The US Conference of Mayors issued a report recently that stated that
our economy will see a major shift of our workforce where 4.2 million
green jobs will be created by 2038.

The Apollo Alliance coalition of environmentalists says a $500 billion
investment over the next 10 years will create 5 million green collar
jobs. If this be the case, it wise to start making career choices now,
and help to save our planet at the same time! To learn more about
green jobs, there are job sites, like MonsterTraks's GreenJobs and
Greenjobs.com that list renewable energy jobs and positions with
green-thinking companies.

Ron Callari
Society and Trends Writer
InventorSpot.com

Ethanol Industry Provides Green Jobs Input

Posted by Cindy Zimmerman

At the request of the Obama administration transition team, the
Renewable Fuels Association last week submitted discussion ideas for
an economic stimulus package partially designed to create green jobs
and spur the green economy.

RFAAccording to a statement from RFA, "Some have misconstrued this
communication as a request for federal assistance or a bailout. To the
contrary, the RFA recognizes that by stimulating increased production,
innovation, and investment in new technologies and cellulosic
feedstocks, a revitalized renewable fuels industry can help bail out
the flagging US economy and lessen America's dependence on foreign
oil."

RFA says the ethanol industry has helped support the creation of more
than 238,000 "green" jobs last year alone as well as helping to revive
struggling rural economies.

Organization representatives say they will continue to have
discussions with the Obama team on how ethanol fits into a green
stimulus package. "America's ethanol producers share the vision of
President-elect Obama of a domestic industry that is innovating to
include ethanol production from a wide array of materials including
switchgrass, wood chips, and municipal solid waste. That vision can
only become a reality if today's ethanol technologies and producers
are successful."

U.S.News & World Report
Monday, December 29, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama has been talking up green jobs, green
energy, and green infrastructure for a while, but in the past few
weeks, as pressure has mounted for a new economic stimulus package,
his push for green spending has acquired a sense of immediacy: If
Congress is going to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to boost
the economy, as it appears likely to do, how much should be spent on
green projects? And do some green projects hold more promise for the
economy than others?
More News

There have certainly been many suggestions. Washington, over the past
month or so, has turned into something of a holiday showcase for
backlogged projects and wishful plans. The National Governors
Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have each published
lists featuring green projects they say are "ready to go"—ready for
construction—in 2009. Activists, utilities, and trade groups have
offered up their own lists, sending them along to the Senate Energy
and Natural Resources Committee, which in turn has turned them over to
Democratic congressional leaders.

From what Obama has said thus far about the stimulus package, which is
rumored to be in the $700 billion-to-$800 billion-plus range, he is
hoping to accomplish two things at once: stabilize and restore the
flagging economy while advancing his energy agenda. Observers say that
to do so, he will have to strike an appropriate balance between
short-term and long-term projects, a balance that delivers quick,
tangible aid to the economy but also lays a foundation for
transforming the country's energy portfolio.

The "green" proposals being bandied about are a motley bunch. They
include calls for fixing old things, such as retrofitting homes and
schools and offices with energy-efficient technologies, and for
building new ones, such as new power plants, new solar farms, and new
fueling stations for flex-fuel vehicles. They cover pitches for large,
multiyear projects—new municipal sewer systems and high-voltage
transmission lines—and pitches for smaller ones, such as installing
windows. And they encompass a range of ideas for distributing the
money (grants, tax credits, and loan guarantees, to name a few) as
well as a range of recipients, including homeowners, utilities,
manufacturers, developers, and city and state governments.

In addition to the calls for investment, there are calls for reform.
Many observers say the stimulus package gives lawmakers a rare
opportunity to overhaul regulatory policies that have hampered the
growth and success of the renewable energy industry (particularly wind
power) and set too-lenient efficiency standards for new office
buildings. One far-reaching move, they say, would be to give greater
control to federal regulators over the construction of new electricity
transmission lines across state jurisdictions, thereby overriding
fights among states and reassuring wind investors that their energy
will find buyers in distant markets.

Of the package's yet-to-be-determined price tag, as much as one third
of it may end up being tied to energy; some lawmakers have said they
would like to see a minimum of $100 billion in energy-related
investment. The big question, of course, is how that money will be
divided up.

At the moment, a consensus seems to be building around the notion that
energy-efficiency projects will have the quickest impact on the
economy, since they are among the easiest to deploy—and they lower
utility bills. As Joe Loper, Alliance to Save Energy's vice president,
said at a recent hearing, "Transformations have long lead times and
many pitfalls. We should not crowd out opportunities for incremental
gains."

The group, along with several other organizations, including Edison
Electric Institute, the main trade group for the electricity industry,
has called for retrofitting 2 million buildings over the next two
years and for at least $13 billion for energy-efficiency programs.

Retrofits, of course, tend to be cheaper than infrastructure projects
or new plants. Converting a coal plant to biomass, for example, might
cost about $100 million; replacing the windows at city hall, about $2
million. But they also only begin to address questions about supply
problems. "It's important to recognize that energy makes a huge
contribution to our economic recovery, not just through immediate jobs
but through providing affordable energy for the future," says Karen
Harbert, managing director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute
for 21st Century Energy. "I don't think we should shy away from
something that could create jobs two, three, four years from now. New
plants have very long supply chains. Orders need to be placed now for
parts. Pieces of equipment take time to manufacture."

Both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden have said that they do
not want the stimulus package to turn into a typical federal
appropriations bill, stuffed with earmarks and goodies for a
congressman's home district. How, then, will Congress designate what
it wants to fund?

Part of the answer appears to be that Democratic leaders are looking
to help state and city programs that already exist but are badly in
need of funding. Likewise, Congress has approved two giant energy
bills in the past three years with hundreds of new programs. But in
many cases, the programs have been left unfunded. In 2007, for
example, Congress authorized a new smart-grid program with a price tag
of $200 million a year for three years. But that program has gone
largely unfunded, according to records.

Environmental advocates, meanwhile, hope that long-neglected areas,
such as water treatment and land preservation, will finally get
attention and that the stimulus package will promote conservation
after years of resource depletion. Much of the nation's
infrastructure—roads, sewer systems, transport pipelines—dates to the
World War II era, if not well before then; some sewer systems in the
Northeast are more than 100 years old and vulnerable to flooding after
heavy rain.

Betsy Otto, vice president of American Rivers, says lawmakers should
focus on alleviating problems in existing systems and on restoring
wetlands and other natural protections. "Partly, this is a question of
follow the money," Otto says. "In the past, money has been in funding
pots for the Army Corps of Engineers and highway development.
Communities have followed where funding sources are—new development,
creating taller and taller levees. Part of a sound national strategy
would be investing in efficiency and natural solutions."

Inevitably, there will be clashes. Some groups say the stimulus
package should include funding for carbon capture and sequestration
technology for coal plants; others say the money should be spent only
on renewable technology. Some want massive funding for roads, in part
to alleviate wasteful idling in big-city traffic; others say funding
for roads should be redirected to companies working on electric cars
or advanced biofuels.

A point of general agreement, however, is that the stimulus package
should go beyond piecemeal funding and look at setting broad policies
that will encourage private investment amid poor conditions. "I don't
know if we have the luxury of picking which industries we want to
support in this economic crisis," Harbert says. "We need all types of
jobs and all types of energy."

Wind - Customer Inquiry Questionnaire

December 5, 2008 With help now, U.S. automakers will lead BY JOHN DINGELL The nation is debating the merits of yet another bailout of Wall Street. Meanwhile the rescue plan for Main Street -- an economic stimulus package and a loan for the Detroit Three automakers -- continues to stall in Congress. It is troubling that while a consensus developed that Wall Street giants such as Citigroup and AIG must be rescued, there are those still arguing that Detroit should not get a loan that would preserve American jobs, including not only those of autoworkers but of millions of other Americans. One in 10 jobs in this country is directly related to the auto industry, and the automakers account for 4% of our GDP. And while some of the Detroit Three's critics refuse to acknowledge it, the domestic automakers are already developing products and technology that lead the global marketplace. The collapse of our automotive industry would be a devastating blow to an already crippled economy, and could mean the permanent loss of the kind of good-paying manufacturing jobs that built the middle class. There is no substitute for a job that can make you proud. Generations of Americans who worked at textile plants, in television factories, and for America's great manufacturers could tell you this -- but you will not find them behind the shackled gates of those factories. Perhaps you will see them running the cash register at Wal-Mart or behind the counter at a local diner. Today could be the last stand for American manufacturing and our last connection to those who gave the world the Industrial Revolution and served as the Arsenal of Democracy during World War II. As the auto executives continue to make their case, we must not forget about the millions of men and women whose livelihood is dependent on a strong and thriving manufacturing sector. When testifying before Congress two weeks ago, the CEOs of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford did a poor job of making that case. In their answers and even in their use of company planes, they clearly did not appear to understand that this is not business as usual. In essence, because of the current extraordinary economic crisis, which we now know is officially a recession, the taxpayer has become the lender of last resort for these companies. The CEOs must present their thinking and action plans to match the challenges our auto industry faces. This includes communicating better the global plan they do have for success. My colleagues are right to demand that auto executives be able to comprehensively answer tough questions. Taxpayers deserve honest answers about how the government loan money would be spent. As a congressman from metro Detroit, I have seen first-hand how the companies are prepared for the next generation of advanced technology vehicles. The auto manufacturers don't need to convince me that they are on the right track, but they must make their case to the American people. Ford, Chrysler and GM are creating a new breed of green automobiles, and with those cars come millions of green jobs. These cars, like the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and a line of electric cars from Chrysler that includes a Jeep Wrangler, will be industry leaders. I know there is a generation that feels we have lost the innovation battle to our international competitors. This misperception has highlighted the need to do a better job of telling the "American car story." Fortunately, I am convinced that if America's automakers can weather the current financial crisis, they will be at the forefront of the global competition, creating the most energy-efficient vehicles on the road. Those vehicles will generate more than just money; they will create pride for those who make them, for the dealers that sell them, and for consumers all over the world who will drive them. Other countries are helping save their own auto industries as national treasures. We cannot remain a great nation unless we also do so. Our nation, our economy, and our industry have a bright future. We must seize it with strength and vigor. Our country, our children, and our future demand it.

December 4, 2008 Local Michigan Works! receives $25k from state BY KRISTOFER KAROL DAILY PRESS & ARGUS The Livingston County Michigan Works! received $25,333 from the state on Thursday to support the No Worker Left Behind initiative. "This funding will help citizens upgrade their skills for new good-paying jobs that demand more specialized skills and knowledge," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. "A highly skilled workforce is key to retaining and attracting employers who want to grow their business in Michigan." The initiative, launched Aug. 1, 2007, aims to train 100,000 Michigan residents in three years for jobs in high-demand occupations. The county's allocation was part of $2 million distributed to 25 Michigan Works! agencies throughout the state.

Oakland County to build green airport terminal

metromode, 11/13/2008

A green terminal is coming to the Oakland County International Airport.

The new terminal will incorporate a number of top-shelf sustainable options, such as wind power generating technology, geothermal and landscaping that uses rain water irrigation. It will also be built with a number of recycled materials.

The "green" terminal replaces a building that has been around for nearly 50 years. Materials from the demolished building will be recycled where possible.

The new terminal will be smaller than the current building (13,500 square feet versus 17,000 square feet) but the space will be used more efficiently. It will include airport offices, a U.S. Customs Service office and have a private meeting room for up to 80 people.

The $5.5 million project is set to begin next spring. Construction should be wrapped up by the summer of 2010. It's being paid for by Oakland County's Airport Fund, which consists of money from fees from airport users.

Southfield-based Neumann Smith Architecture is designing the building. The firm is aiming for LEED certification with its designs.

Oakland International is the 16th busiest airport in the U.S. and the second busiest in Michigan behind Detroit Metropolitan Airport. More than 500,000 people pass through Oakland International annually and more than 800 private and corporate aircraft are based there.

Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

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U.S., Brazil to speed up cellulosic ethanol research

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:24am EST

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The world's top two producers of ethanol, the U.S. and Brazil, will join forces to speed up research into cellulose-derived biofuels, which use inedible plant matter rather than crops as their feedstock.

In a statement they said they would expand scientific collaboration led by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and Brazilian oil giant Petrobras' Center for Research and Development CENPES.

The two nations would also to help five countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean to develop their own biofuel industries, investing $4.3 million in biofuel projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Guinea Bissau and Senegal.

Existing partners already being helped to develop their biofuel industries including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti and St. Kitts and Nevis would also benefit.

The U.S. agriculture secretary Ed Schafer and Brazil's foreign minister Celso Amorim announced their agreement late on Thursday at an international biofuels conference Brazil has been hosting in Sao Paulo, which concludes on Friday.

The Latin American nation began pioneering use of sugar cane ethanol in the mid-1970s making cars adapted to run on the biofuel. A newer generation of "flex-fuel" cars launched around four years ago can run on any mix of ethanol and gasoline.

"Second generation" or cellulosic ethanol which is not yet produced on a commercial scale, involves breaking down the woody bits of crop waste or plants into sugars to ferment -- a method expected to emit less greenhouse gases than cane and corn-based production.

(Reporting by Peter Murphy; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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Published on mndaily.com - Serving the University of Minnesota Since 1900 (http://www.mndaily.com)

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Green jobs could help Minnesota's economy

Publish Date: 

11/18/2008

Reporter: 

Conor Shine [1]

As the nation faces pressing economic and environmental, Americans are calling for action to combat both issues at the same time.
According to a survey released Nov. 12 by the Environmental Defense Fund, 58 percent of Americans think investment in new, clean energy technologies could create millions of jobs to help the country recover from the economic crisis.
The Minnesota Green Jobs Task Force , formed by the state Legislature in the last session, researches the current green industry and will develop an action plan to help the Legislature and governor decide how to best advance Minnesota's green industries.
State Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch, who is co-heading the group with state Sen. Ellen Anderson , DFL-St. Paul, said there is an opportunity to create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue by building Minnesota's green industries.
Kalin said there's been a call for more green initiatives at a grassroots level and some businesses have been taking steps to go green. But, he said, now is the time to start removing the remaining barriers to allow green industries to really take off.
By focusing on building a green economy, Kalin said the state can address its environmental and economic issues at the same time.
"There is certainly an opportunity in the next few years to turn this economy around as fast as we can in a sustainable way," he said.
Kalin said he sees students as playing an important role in building green industries, serving as leaders and innovators as the industry grows.
"There is definitely a role for young people to fill and make good money doing it," he said.
Although green jobs are becoming more common, there still isn't a concrete definition of what a green job is, Richard Overmoyer , a researcher for the task force, said.
In his team's research, Overmoyer said they defined a green job as any job in an industry that is involved in producing green products, creating renewable energy, providing green services or promoting environmental conservation.
Kit Batten , a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress , a Washington D.C. based think-tank, said that by investing $100 billion in the green economy over the next two years, an estimated 2 million jobs could be created nationwide.
According to a September report released by the CAP, more than 37,000 jobs could be created in Minnesota alone if the $100 billion national investment went through.
"We're talking about a major increase in job creation potential by investing in green strategies," Batten said.
EcoWatch student group president Holly Lahd , a University senior in applied economics and environmental sciences, policy and management, said it's exciting to see green industries growing from a niche market into an important sector of the economy.
Addressing economic and environmental problems at the same time is a good idea, she said, because there isn't time to put off environmental issues while the economy recovers.
"I'm worried that the slow economy will be used as an excuse to not achieve our environmental goals," Lahd said.

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© 2008 Minnesota Daily

Source URL (retrieved on 11/19/2008 - 6:55pm): http://www.mndaily.com/2008/11/17/green-jobs-could-help-minnesota%E2%80%99s-economy

WINDSPIRE INSPIRES GOING GREEN! (GREAT LAKES IT REPORT PRESS RELEASE)

An example of a Windspire installation

Posted: Monday, 17 November 2008 9:35PM

Warren Schools To Consider Renewable Energy Curriculum

A unique vertical-axis wind turbine would be installed at the Macomb Math, Science and Technology Center under an agreement to be considered Wednesday night by the board of the Warren Consolidated Schools.

The Windspire wind turbine would be installed by Southern Exposure Renewable Energy Co. of Ortonville. It's manufactured by Nevada-based Mariah Power.

The turbine is part of a larger proposal to create a "renewable energy institute" at the math and science magnet school, with the company and the school district working together to develop a new renewable energy curriculum.

More at www.mariahpower.com or www.seenergyco.com.

Recently Mariah Power partnered with Mastech of Sterling Heights to manufacture its Windspire product at Mastech's plant in Manistee. The first Michigan made wind turbines are scheduled to become available in February.

November 9, 2008
Choking back tears through the smog at the Brazilian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton's victory and a farewell to friends made Sao Paulo emotional
Martin Brundle

LAST weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix was a rollercoaster ride for me, for reasons that extend beyond Lewis Hamilton keeping us on the edge of our seats until the final corner to become the youngest Formula One world champion and the first British winner for 12 years.

Before the weekend I was arguing with myself whether it was right, as an impartial broadcaster, that I was hoping Hamilton would clinch it. After all, either he or Felipe Massa would have been a worthy champion. I satisfied myself that if this had been an England versus Brazil World Cup final, there would be nothing wrong with wanting England to win, so long as I honestly called it as I saw it. After all, I am a British former F1 driver and I don't need to hide from that.

I have spent most of my life working with teams of people, including ITV-F1 this past dozen years. This race was our last broadcast. Together we've travelled, worked and partied, creating award-winning programmes, including 12 Royal Television Society gongs and two Baftas. We have taken a lot of flak for cutting to adverts during the race action, but that's just the way it is: ITV gets the ad revenue, BBC gets the licence fee and Sky gets the subscriptions and ad revenue.

There was an emotional ITV party for the 40 of us present at the event on Saturday night. It turned out to be great, not the wake I had been fearing, given that several team members, like so many others in this difficult economic climate, are heading into an uncertain future.

James Allen said a few words including, "Tomorrow we will disband", which was sobering. We had no way of knowing that the next day was going to be such a thrilling cliffhanger watched by 13m people, otherwise we might have had fewercaipirinhas,Brazil's national cocktail.

Interlagos was the perfect place for a title decider. It is without a doubt the scruffiest, most ill-equipped venue we go to, yet there is something magical about it. It is in the grubby city of Sao Paulo, where favelasand five-star hotels perch side by side, a city of Porsches mixing it with rusty, beaten-up old Chevrolets. You never feel completely safe there, the smog catches the back of your throat, the bathwater is brown and you walk out from your hotel to find people with missing limbs begging.

The track looks old, the paddock is so ridiculously narrow that you see the tyre guys impatiently wheeling the would-be world champion's tyres through the middle of a crowd of nearly famous people. But it has the most fantastic atmosphere sitting in a natural amphitheatre that exaggerates the feeling of a coliseum.

To add to the drama, we had a downpour just as the race was due to start, delaying it by 10 minutes. Three teams told me the possible rainfall had dispersed. Nobody had umbrellas, the sky looked initially calm, but the downpour descended in 10 minutes. I remarked on television that, looking through the letterbox slot of his crash helmet, Lewis appeared more relaxed about the rain than Massa. It was because he had known it was coming. The McLaren forecasters had apparently predicted the correct time and intensity of the downpour to within 15 seconds. That confidence would be a significant factor five laps from the finish, but it could so easily have cost them the championship.

Through the first corner we lost Britain's David Coulthard from the race, another poignant moment for me because he is a former rival and long-time friend and I have negotiated his driving contracts for the past 11 years.

When the ITV commentating role first became available I didn't want it, because I was expecting to be an F1 driver in 1997. I seemed to be the last person to realise that I had already completed my last grand prix.

Coulthard can consider himself a lucky boy because he knew it was his last outing. There was an overwhelming, spontaneous feeling of goodwill towards him from pretty much the whole paddock. The team painted up a pedal car in Red Bull colours for his forthcoming baby boy, the mechanics arranged that he be bagpiped into the car and there was a photo lineup with the other drivers.

I've learnt a lot from him. Having observed F1 and Coulthard closely, if I had known then what I know now, I'd have been a lot more successful as a driver. I beat Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen, three of the great champions of my era, in the same car on the same day. Yet I didn't translate those performances into proper long-term results.

My time with Coulthard made me realise that I wasn't 100% focused. I should have had more people around me, such as a full-time trainer and a physio. I should have engaged the sport's powerbrokers with more frequency and confidence. I needed to have been more ruthless and selfish, less trusting and compliant.

Coulthard will have regrets too. He should probably have taken a world championship. Surely only Schumacher and the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart and Alain Prost could be fully content with their complement of championships, reputations and limbs intact, and proper money in the bank. Or maybe not, because none of them seems able to leave the sport alone.

Last weekend Massa was supreme and Hamilton was tight with fear of losing, his normal flamboyance at the wheel missing as the team carefully guided him to a necessary but overcautious fifth place. The final rainfall gave us one of the most exciting grands prix in history. McLaren did the only sensible thing in bringing Hamilton in for rain tyres, as did Massa, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel ahead of him.

However, with Toyota's Timo Glock staying out on dry tyres - a brave but smart decision that would eventually gain him a place and with Hamilton being overtaken by Vettel, suddenly he was sixth and out of position for the title. Hamilton went into the last lap 12 seconds down on Glock, who had just completed the penultimate lap only three seconds slower. But his tyre temperatures and pressures were falling off a cliff face.

Finally the heavy rain arrived, later than forecast, and we saw a Toyota struggling from Hamilton's onboard camera as he desperately tried to repass Vettel, a driver he had been told not to fight just a few laps earlier. In the next camera shot we saw it was Glock, and Hamilton was through.

Already crossing the line more than half a minute ahead, it seemed Massa could well be the champion, but, especially in such conditions, it's crazy to celebrate too early. Many people missed the Glock pass, but thankfully up in the commentary box we had it all under control.

With a tear in my eye, I decided that all caipirinha limits were immediately lifted. It was serious party time for so many reasons.

Brundle on the final moments

Felipe Massa's mother, father and close family celebrate his supreme victory from pole position in treacherous conditions in front of the adoring Brazilian fans in their own back yard in Sao Paulo, where Massa started racing. They also believe he has won the World Championship but the caption already shows Hamilton in a critical fifth place.

Moments later, a Ferrari team member tells them that Hamilton has passed Toyota's Timo Glock at the last corner, has crossed the line and is, in fact, the 2008 world champion. Utter disbelief and despair follows. Massa and his family have handled themselves throughout the season with style, class and dignity, never more so than in the final race, making this image all the more sad. For a TV commentator, however, there was no better way to end the season.

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Google Adds Voice, Video Chat to Gmail, Apps

11.11.08

  Total posts: 1

by Chloe Albanesius

Fearful that the tone of your instant messages is sometimes lost in translation? Google on Tuesday announced that it is integrating a voice and video plug-in for it Gmail Chat offering that lets you see or hear the friend with which you are chatting.

Users will need to download and install a plug-in, and have access to a Webcam for video purposes. Google has partnered with Logitech and Buy.com to offer discounts of up to 30 percent on several cameras, as well as free shipping, until November 30.

A $99.99 Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks, for example, is available for $69.99, while a $49 Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP is now $39.99.

"I'm a big user of Gmail chat. Being able to switch from email to chat as needed, all within the same app, is really great for productivity," Justin Uberti, a Google software engineer, wrote in a blog post. "But people can only type so fast, and even with our new emoticons, there are still some things that just can't be expressed in a chat message."

Once installed, click the "video & more" link inside the chat window and select "start video chat" or "start voice chat." The friend you are trying to contact will hear a ring and be given the option to accept or ignore the call. Users can then chat within the Gmail tab or pop it out into a separate window and expand or decrease its size.

Voice and video chat is available on Macs running Mac OS X v10.4 or later and PCs running Windows XP or higher. A link to download the offering will be rolled out to all Gmail and Google Apps accounts in the coming days, but it is also available directly at http://mail.google.com/videochat.

The video function was designed via open standards, "which means that third-party applications and networks can choose to interoperate with Gmail voice and video chat," Uberti wrote.

The offering was developed by Google teams in the U.S. and Sweden "so collaborating across continents and time zones is a fact of life for us, and it sure is easier (and greener) to click 'Start video chat' than to get on a plane!" he said.

Why Obama's 'Green Jobs' Plan Won't Work

By Kenneth P. Green Friday, November 7, 2008

Filed under: Science & Technology

It would indeed create jobs, but it would do so by killing other jobs. Is that really what Americans want?

President-elect Barack Obama has put energy policy at the forefront of his agenda. He says that his plan will boost our national security, help us achieve "energy independence," reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote job creation. Indeed, Obama vows to create around five million new jobs by increasing federal spending on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels.

As many experts have observed, the science behind the Obama plan is dubious, particularly when it comes to ethanol. The renewable energy industry simply does not have the capacity (at least not yet) to power large swathes of our fossil fuel-driven economy. Just look at the United Kingdom, where a shortage of windmill-building capability has hindered the government's plan to replace aging nuclear reactors with wind power.

If Obama's energy promises rely on questionable science, they rely on even more questionable economics. We are to believe that replacing conventional energy sources (especially coal) with renewables (especially wind) will create five million new "green jobs." The hope is that armies of workers will be enlisted to build tens of thousands of windmills; to manufacture and deploy solar-power installations; to harvest, transport, and process huge amounts of biofuel feedstock; and to string the power lines that will allow the U.S. power grid to incorporate a major expansion of intermittent energy.

Unfortunately, the idea of government "job creation" is a classic example of the broken window fallacy, which was explained by French economist Frédéric Bastiat way back in 1850. It is discouraging to think that, nearly 160 years later, politicians still do not understand Bastiat's basic economic insight.

The idea of government 'job creation' is a classic example of the broken window fallacy, which was explained by French economist Frédéric Bastiat way back in 1850.

He explained the fallacy as follows: Imagine some shopkeepers get their windows broken by a rock-throwing child. At first, people sympathize with the shopkeepers, until someone claims that the broken windows really aren't that bad. After all, they "create work" for the glassmaker, who might then be able to buy more food, benefiting the grocer, or buy more clothes, benefiting the tailor. If enough windows are broken, the glassmaker might even hire an assistant, creating a job.

Did the child therefore do a public service by breaking the windows? No. We must also consider what the shopkeepers would have done with the money they used to fix their windows had those windows not been broken. Most likely, the shopkeepers would have ploughed that money into their store: perhaps they would have bought more stock from their suppliers, or maybe they would have hired new employees. Before the windows broke, the shopkeepers had intact windows and the money to purchase more goods or hire new workers. After the windows broke, they had to use that money to repair the windows, and thus were unable to expand their business.

Now consider Obama's "green jobs" plan, which includes regulations, subsidies, and renewable-power mandates. The "broken windows" in this case would be lost jobs and lost capital in the coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and automobile industries. These industries currently employ more than one million people directly. Conventional power plants would be closed and massive amounts of energy infrastructure would be dismantled. After breaking these windows, the Obama plan would then create new jobs in the renewable energy sector. The costs of replacing those windows would ultimately be passed on to taxpayers and energy consumers.

In short, the Obama plan reflects fallacious thinking of the first order. There may be sound reasons to switch from existing energy sources to renewables, including the need to slash greenhouse gas emissions, the need to reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and the need to meet growing energy demand. If Americans wish to pay for a wholesale transformation of the energy industry, that is their choice. But let's not lie about the costs, and let's not espouse an economic fallacy that is nearly 160 years old. Obama's "green jobs" plan would indeed create jobs, but it would do so by killing other jobs. Is that really the type of energy policy Americans want?

While we still have time before the last drop of oil on earth is depleted, before the last breath of air is polluted, and before we are no longer able to step outside our homes due to the intense heat.  I say yes.

The transformation will be slow, but first we need training and education for wind, solar, and other alternative energy resources not yet discovered.

This would be the time for the million workers in conventional energy sectors to retrain and prepare, before they too are caught like the hundreds of thousands in the manufacturing sectors.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Commentary 'Green jobs' could be costly for Michigan William Yeatman Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been drinking the "green jobs" Kool-aid, recently announcing that she is creating an energy department and naming an energy czar to pursue "alternative" energy and "create thousands of jobs." Yet in these times of economic distress, the governor's priorities are misplaced. Environmental protection comes at a price -- after all, someone has to pay to keep air and water clean. However, politicians like Granholm claim that clever government policies can result in environmental protections that simultaneously grow the economy. If something sounds too good to be true, it is. Environmental protection still comes at a price, and Granholm's green jobs initiative threatens Michigan's ailing economy. The governor claims that "progressive policies that encourage renewable energy development" would boost Michigan's green economy. And she's partly right: Regulations that force green energy on consumers and producers would boost business for politically favored alternative energy companies, such as manufacturers of wind turbines and solar panels. Increased demand, in turn, would create jobs at these green companies. But at the same time, businesses that supply or use large amounts of conventional energy -- such as traditional manufacturers -- would face decreased demand for their products and would therefore lose employees. Indeed, more jobs would be lost at these firms than would be "created" at the environmentally correct ones. Granholm's "progressive" energy policy might create a net gain for Michigan's green economic sector, but it would create a net loss for the economy. Granholm promises that Michigan will "celebrate job announcements," if it "continues to provide workers with the training they need" in environmentally friendly services. Again, she is partly right: Government can create green jobs by spending taxpayer money on training people to install light bulbs and solar panels so that consumers can meet energy efficiency regulations. What the governor really wants is for the state government to pick winners and losers in Michigan's energy market. This will not yield efficient outcomes. Taxpayer money spent on creating "green jobs" comes out of the market economy, which otherwise would have allocated those resources more efficiently to produce goods and services that consumers actually want. Government pushing "green" goods and services on consumers carries a direct cost, which can be measured in taxpayer dollars, as well as an indirect cost, in forgone economic productivity. Finally, Granholm argues that Michigan must "expand the funding available for research and development" in environmentally friendly energy technologies in order to capitalize on the green economic revolution. Again, she is mistaken, because government has never been good at choosing the most promising emerging technologies. Government is run by bureaucrats and regulators, not venture capitalists. That's why the federal government has wasted so much money in the past on failed energy initiatives, like hydrogen fuel cells and synfuels. Rather than produce a clean energy technology breakthrough, Granholm's clean energy initiative is more likely to become a pork barrel fund for Michigan legislators to have at their disposal to reward constituent schools and companies. William Yeatman is an energy policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free-market research center in Washington, D.C.

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How Closing Manufacturing Plants Can Be Transformed into Community-Saving Business Ventures By Angela Walker , AlterNet Posted on November 12, 2008, Printed on November 12, 2008 http://www.alternet.org/story/106425/ Hit hard by the slowdown in the marketplace and higher fuel prices, Ford Motor Company recently experienced its largest quarterly loss in its 105-year history. With people evacuating their fuel-inefficient vehicles, Ford is experiencing its delayed rude awakening about the unsustainability of an auto industry geared towards producing pickups and sport utility vehicles. Despite plans to introduce six small cars made in Europe to the U.S. market, Ford today announced another 10 percent reduction in salaried payroll costs and will cut as many as 2,200 salaried jobs by January. The oldest Ford plant still in operation -- the Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota -- will be the epitome of the changes to come. With plans to shut down in 2011, an additional 900 jobs will be lost in a plant that used to employ 2,000 workers. Communities throughout the state have already experienced the brunt of the country's economic downturn, Minnesota having lost 50,000 manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2006 alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. "We're just hemorrhaging," states former United Auto Worker (UAW) official, Lynn Hinkle, who retired over a year ago from a 30-year career at the Twin Cities Ford plant. Yet something unusual is in the works that could change the future of this 140-acre manufacturing site and convert it into a model for green manufacturing. A coalition of the local UAW 879, McAllister University students, and affordable housing and environmental groups have formed the Alliance to Reindustrialize for a Sustainable Economy (ARISE) to design a green manufacturing site. The ARISE project is currently being considered by the Minnesota Legislature under Senate File 607 as a way to transition workers into a mixed-use facility for green manufacturing. ARISE is re-envisioning how people look at industry, which historically has collided with the environmental movement. Their reindustrialization plans serve as an opportunity for industry to play a key role in the green economy. "It is becoming increasingly clear to people in the union movement that our job security is dependent upon the new energy economy," states Hinkle. "If you're about family sustaining jobs, you have to connect global warming solutions and jobs otherwise you're going to have neither." Ford's current training center would be converted into a green jobs training program for onsite wind turbine manufacturing and installation, and light rail car production. A plan to expand the light rail system is in the works to reach out to surrounding, traditionally low-income communities, which have been working with ARISE on the reindustrialization plans. The Ford plant, located on the Mississippi River, is already connected to a hydroelectric system, which produces 18 megawatts of hydropower, and has powered the plant for over 80 years. Additionally, there exists a maze of tunnels onsite that were originally dug out for silica, used in making glass for windshields. These tunnels may be used for ground-source heating. "We believe there's enough green energy sources on site to go totally noncarbon," says Hinkle. With 140 acres, the coalition has the space to get creative with its envisioning and holistic approach. Businesses would be brought in to develop retail shops on the lower levels of buildings with affordable, residential units above. Walkways up and over the buildings would connect rooftop restaurants and bars to urban gardens with beautiful views of the Mississippi River. To connect the shops to the light rail, small electric vehicles would be produced onsite. Throughout the last century, manufacturing jobs and industry have played a significant role in the growth of cities and development of communities by providing families with low entry-level jobs. Communities cannot afford to continue experiencing the off-shoring of their manufacturing jobs, especially during the current economic downturn. ARISE's plan is to develop this site as a prototype for turning brown fields, or old industrial grounds, into green manufacturing sites to support green jobs and sustainable community development. Student group Summer of Solutions -- in partnership with economic justice organization, Global Exchange -- sees the future of their generation invested in this project. "If we're going to build the green economy, we have to start here," says McAllister graduate Joseph Adamji. "The green jobs movement and the whole idea of shifting and expanding economic opportunity are to make social changes happen. As much as this project is about the Ford site, we need to use it as a model for how we develop communities, intentionally and sustainably." City planners hope to see this space used as a central hub for sustainability projects for St. Paul and beyond. "We could redevelop old manufacturing cities like Detroit and bring economic opportunities and prosperity," states Adamji. "We're trying to say that industry can play a role in the green economy." Decarbonize, reindustrialize, equalize, is what ARISE is saying. The new energy economy can be used to battle lagging economic opportunities and social inequity. ARISE hopes to inspire communities -- from Flint, Michigan to Richmond, California -- to decide how they want to develop a new sense of community. Reindustrialization can be part of this process by formulating ways to generate green energy, mass transit, higher density and energy efficient buildings, and affordable housing. "This is an opportunity to change the landscape literally and figuratively," says Hinkle. "What a great basis to rebuild the union movement. It's an opportunity for the green union movement to emerge, where unions can stand center stage and create aspirations for our entire society." Angela Walker is the media director for Global Exchange. © 2008 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved. View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/106425/

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Boston Business Journal - November 3, 2008 http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/11/03/daily12.html

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Lawmakers cut $30M from green, biotech and e-health programs

Boston Business Journal - by Craig M. Douglas

State lawmakers voted last week to slash $30 million from three investment funds targeting ambitious job and economic growth in the biotechnology, green-energy and health care sectors.

State Sen. Marc Pacheco, chairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, confirmed Monday that individual cuts to the investment funds were endorsed last week during a supplemental authorization vote at the Statehouse. A House Ways and Means official said each of the three investment funds targeted — the Massachusetts Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund, the E-health Trust Fund and the Life Sciences Investment Fund — will each have $10 million pared from their budgets.

The Massachusetts Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund, which was part of the state's Green Jobs Act passed in August, will see its balance sheet cut from $43 million to $33 million. The investment vehicle was created to help promote the state's clean-energy sector while also lowering its greenhouse-gas emissions.

The fund was launched with $43 million from the fiscal 2007 surplus. The fund will also receive another $25 million previously budgeted for the Renewable Energy Trust, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Pacheco said the state still has significant investment funds at its disposal, adding that last week's cuts are not a sign of a retreat from the commonwealth's fastest-growing sectors.

"We really deauthorized some funds," Pacheco said. "Given the fact that most of the funds authorized ... We were not going to be able to get most of that money out the door by the end of this fiscal period anyway."

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INNOVATION CONSTANT: IRRESPECTIVE of Space and Time!

Unboxed

It’s No Time to Forget About Innovation

James Yang

By JANET RAE-DUPREE

Published: November 1, 2008

BY its very nature, innovation is inefficient. While blockbusters do emerge, few of the new products or processes that evolve from innovative thinking ultimately survive the test of time. During periods of economic growth, such inefficiencies are chalked up as part of the price of forging into the future.

But these aren’t such times. Wild market gyrations, frozen credit markets and an overall sour economy herald a new round of corporate belt-tightening. Foremost on the target list is anything inefficient. That’s bad news for corporate innovation, and it could spell trouble for years to come, even after the economy turns around.

“To be honest, we had a problem with innovation even before the economic crisis. That’s the reason I wrote my book,” says Judy Estrin, former chief technology officer at Cisco Systems and author of “Closing the Innovation Gap.” “We’re focusing on the short term and we’re not planting the seeds for the future.”

In tough times, of course, many companies have to scale back. But, she says: “To quote Obama, you don’t use a hatchet. You use a scalpel. Leaders need to pick and choose with great care.”

There are important things managers can do to ensure that creative forward-thinking doesn’t go out the door with each round of layoffs. Fostering a companywide atmosphere of innovation — encouraging everyone to take risks and to think about novel solutions, from receptionists to corner-suite executives — helps ensure that the loss of any particular set of minds needn’t spell trouble for the entire company.

She suggests instilling five core values to entrench innovation in the corporate mind-set: questioning, risk-taking, openness, patience and trust. All five must be used together — risk-taking without questioning leads to recklessness, she says, while patience without trust sets up an every-man-for-himself mentality.

In an era of Six Sigma black belts and brown belts, Ms. Estrin urges setting aside certain efficiency measures in favor of what she calls “green-thumb leadership” — a future-oriented management style that understands, and even encourages, taking risks. Let efficiency measures govern the existing “factory farm,” she says, but create greenhouses and experimental gardens along the sides of the farm to nurture the risky investments that likely will take a number of years to bear fruit.

“I’m not suggesting you only cut from today’s stuff and keep the future part untouched,” she says. “You have to balance it.”

Yet even that approach has its drawbacks. Companies that create silos of innovation by designating one group as the “big thinkers” while making others handle day-to-day concerns risk losing their innovative edge if any of the big thinkers leave the company or ultimately must be laid off.

“Innovation has to be embedded in the daily operation, in the entire work force,” says Jon Fisher, a business professor, serial entrepreneur, and author of “Strategic Entrepreneurism,” which advocates building a start-up’s business from the beginning with an eye toward selling the company. “A large acquirer’s interest in a start-up or smaller company is binary in nature: They either want you or they don’t, based on the innovation you have to offer. The best way to foster innovation is to create something, put it to the test, build a good company and then get it under the umbrella of a world-renowned company to move it forward.”

David Thompson, chief executive and co-founder of Genius.com Inc., based in San Mateo, Calif., says that innovation “has a bad name in down times” but that “bad times focus the mind and the best-focused minds in the down times are looking for the opportunities.”

“You do have to batten down the hatches and reduce expenses, but you can’t do it at the expense of the big picture,” Mr. Thompson adds. “You always have to keep in mind the bigger picture that’s coming down the road in two or three years.

“The last thing you want to do with innovation is just throw money at it. It’s a very tricky balance.”

In fact, hard times can be the source of innovative inspiration, says Chris Shipley, a technology analyst and executive producer of the DEMO conferences, where new ideas make their debuts. “Some of the best products and services come out of some of the worst times,” she says. In the early 1990s, tens of millions of dollars had gone down the drain in a futile effort to develop “pen computing” — an early phase of mobile computing — and a recession was shriveling the economic outlook.

Yet the tiny Palm Computing managed to revitalize the entire industry in a matter of months by transforming itself overnight from a software maker into a hardware company.

“Our biggest challenge right now is fear,” she says. “The worst thing that a company can do right now is go into hibernation, into duck-and-cover. If you just sit on your backside and wait for things to get better, they’re not going to. They’re going to get better for somebody, but not necessarily for you.”

HOWARD LIEBERMAN, also a serial entrepreneur and founder of the Silicon Valley Innovation Institute, says innovation breeds effectiveness. It’s not about efficiency, he argues. “Efficiency is for bean counters,” he says. “It’s not for C.E.O.’s or inventors or founders.”

The current economic downturn comes as no surprise to him, he says, because it mirrors the downturn at the time of the dot-com bust. Then and now, the companies that survive are those that keep creativity and innovation foremost.

“Creativity doesn’t care about economic downturns,” Mr. Lieberman says. “In the middle of the 1970s, when we were having a big economic downturn, both Apple and Microsoft were founded. Creative people don’t care about the time or the season or the state of the economy; they just go out and do their thing.”

Janet Rae-Dupree writes about science and emerging technology in Silicon Valley.