Finance and Administration Cabinet
Gov. Beshear recognizes green collar jobs resulting from stimulus investments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        

EDGEWOOD, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2009) – Gov. Steve Beshear today joined members of the Clean Energy Corps at the JD Patton Area Technology Center in Northern Kentucky to recognize the first class of energy auditors to receive training for green jobs as a part of America’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“This program is a remarkable way to invest stimulus dollars in our Commonwealth’s future through economic development, job creation and promoting energy efficiency,” said Gov. Beshear.  “These green collar professionals will be able to show homeowners the benefits of conserving energy, resulting in lower utility bills and energy savings.”

Approximately 46 energy auditors are participating in the training and certification at area technology centers located in Kenton, Meade, Pike and Butler counties.  The instructors of the program were trained through the Kentucky Housing Corporation’s Weatherization Assistance Program.  The current students are employees of Community Action Agencies where, once certified, they will perform energy audits on qualified homes participating in the Weatherization Assistance Program. 

The training of additional energy auditors is supported by Kentucky’s Clean Energy Corps, a coalition of public and private sector partners launched by Gov. Beshear in February to promote energy efficiency improvements in all Kentucky households.

The Clean Energy Corps is utilizing federal stimulus dollars to expand home weatherization efforts, to save Kentuckians money, and to protect Kentucky’s environment by engaging young Kentuckians as “Green Ambassadors” to help spread the message about energy efficiency, among other initiatives.

“We are experiencing some really difficult times right now, and it is critical that we exercise as much of our resources as possible to help Kentuckians save money and to create jobs for those who need them,” said Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller.  “Kentucky’s Clean Energy Corps has been able to use stimulus dollars to do just that – put Kentuckians to work using new, innovative green technologies that will not only help families save money every month on their utility bills, but it will also preserve the environment for our future generations.”

“Cross-agency partnerships are key to the success of this worthwhile project,” said Helen Mountjoy, secretary of Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. “The ability to respond to critical technical training needs is one of the strengths of the Kentucky Tech system of schools. Equipment purchased to train energy auditors will also provide great learning opportunities for our emerging green generation.”

The KY Tech School System is operated through the Office of Career and Technical Education within the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. It includes 54 area technology centers across the state and has established the national standard for career and technical education. Its mission is to develop a versatile individual by providing technical education and skills training in a safe environment.

The Clean Energy Corps is developing an energy auditors training model that will include a nationally recognized certification component that will be launched statewide in early 2010. This training will be open to all Kentuckians wishing to pursue a green collar career path.

To learn more about the Clean Energy Corps, visit http://finance.ky.gov/cec.htm or contact Corey Kline at corey.kline@ky.gov.  To find a local area technology center, visit http://kytech.ky.gov/

###