Late Saturday, SEIU Local 26 janitors announced victory in their contract negotiations, winning good, green full-time jobs with affordable health care for over 4,000 janitors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. SEIU Local 26 was ready to strike as soon as today (Monday) if a contract agreement was not reached. See Saturday's announcement of the contract victory and SEIU Local 26 members' reactions:
Here at Fresh Energy, we're often writing about the new clean energy economy. But how often do you actually see the thousands of Minnesota union workers in clean energy jobs? Now's your chance. The Blue Green Alliance is organizing the Green Jobs Photo Project, with a gallery opening on Thursday, January 14, 6-8PM at Common Roots Café in Minneapolis, and you're invited!
Thinking about the clean energy economy usually evokes images of constructing wind turbines, weatherizing homes, and installing solar panels on rooftops. However, Service Employees International Union Local 26, based in St. Paul, seeks to include janitors among those workers whose jobs contribute to the green economy while sustaining families.
Yesterday, an amendment to the omnibus energy bill (SF 550) lifting Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear power plants was narrowly defeated by a margin of 60-72. The energy omnibus bill passed the House floor shortly after the nuclear power amendment vote.
A climate change legislation "discussion draft" has been released by Energy and Commerce Chair John Dingell (D-MI) and Rick Boucher (D-VA.) Read the 461-page document [pdf], or its 2-page summary [pdf] and analysis (hat tip to Grist.org).
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) (called "reggie" in policy circles) held the nation's first regional cap-and-trade auction on September 25. RGGI reports [pdf] that 12.6 million allowances were sold; 59 participants took part. Some $38.5 million will be distributed to the six RGGI states that offered allowances for sale at this auction (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut). Allowances sold for $3.07 per ton. Four other northeastern states are a part of RGGI. Other regional initiatives to limit carbon include the Western Climate Initiative and the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.
Minnesota ties for seventh place in state-by-state analysis in energy efficiency, according to an American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy report. The 2008 Energy Efficiency Scorecard found Minnesota shared its ranking with Massachusetts. California came in first, followed by Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Washington, respectively. Wisconsin and New Jersey rounded out the top ten. Take that, Wisconsin!
A climate change legislation "discussion draft" has been released by Energy and Commerce Chair John Dingell (D-MI) and Rick Boucher (D-VA.) Read the 461-page document [pdf], or its 2-page summary [pdf] and analysis (hat tip to Grist.org).
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) (called "reggie" in policy circles) held the nation's first regional cap-and-trade auction on September 25. RGGI reports [pdf] that 12.6 million allowances were sold; 59 participants took part. Some $38.5 million will be distributed to the six RGGI states that offered allowances for sale at this auction (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut). Allowances sold for $3.07 per ton. Four other northeastern states are a part of RGGI. Other regional initiatives to limit carbon include the Western Climate Initiative and the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.
Minnesota ties for seventh place in state-by-state analysis in energy efficiency, according to an American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy report. The 2008 Energy Efficiency Scorecard found Minnesota shared its ranking with Massachusetts. California came in first, followed by Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, New York and Washington, respectively. Wisconsin and New Jersey rounded out the top ten. Take that, Wisconsin!
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