歐巴馬成立的白宮「中產家庭特別小組」日前召開（27日）第一次會報，會中確認，在副總統拜登（Joe Biden）領軍下，該小組的第一個任務為創造「綠領工作機會」。
「當好工作和好工資的機會越來越難獲得時，如何替中產階級家庭找到新的、具創新精神的工作機會將是主要關鍵。這正是我們今天在此聚會的原因──學習、聆聽如何透過綠領工作機會締造堅強的中產階級。」拜登如此表示。
歐巴馬在2月間宣佈一項200多億美元的投資案，主要針對更潔淨、更綠色的經濟，包括5億美元的綠領工作訓練。該會議發布的一份小組報告顯示，投資將幫助創作數以萬計的優質綠色就業機會。
該報告發現，綠領工作的薪水高於其他工作約10%-20%。綠領工作更容易組成工會，這將有助於「強化中產階級家庭，並為弱勢勞工提供躋身中產階級的管道」。在全美各城市和各州成功的綠領工作模式需要由政府帶領，以啟動綠領工作成長的引擎。
2月27日當天與會的6位內閣首長，還包括了勞工部長索利斯（Hilda Solis），他是《綠色就業法》（Green Jobs Act）的起草者，也參加此一會議並成為中產階級特別工作小組的成員。農業部長威薩克（Tom Vilsack）表示：「我們對再生能源的承諾將可創造綠領工作，並且支持美國的中產階級。擴大對美國鄉村的通路，將能同時保住中產階級的工作，同時擴大就業機會」
索利斯表示：「綠領工作不只是未來的工作，它們更是今天的工作機會。透過投資我國最棒的資產──人民──我們不只降低對國外石油的依存度和溫室氣體排放量，更可在今天全面恢復經濟安全。」
美國住宅及都市發展部部長多諾萬（Shaun Donovan）說，「本部門將扮演重要角色，建造標準化的能源效率市場給住房部門，藉此創造成千上萬個綠色工作、降低消費者使用成本，並減少全國的碳排放量。」
能源部長朱棣文說，「經濟復甦不只在於保證華爾街恢復元氣或大銀行倖存。一個真正的復甦意味著一個適合中產階級家庭的經濟。那就是為何歐巴馬和拜登計畫投資再生能源，使住家和商業更符合能源效率，是如此重要。我們能創造數百萬個新工作，透過能源法案替家庭節省開支，結束我們對國外石油過度依賴的危險現狀。」
環境保衛基金會主席卡洛普（Fred Krupp ）也解說了一個基於投資潔淨能源而產生新工作機會的產業潛力架構──特別當國家工業遭受嚴重損失時。他表示：「當我看見較少的碳排放時，我也看見更多的工作。」
根據2008年11月出版的「製造業氣候解決方案」（Manufacturing Climate Solutions），最有前途的技術為LED照明、高性能窗、卡車動力輔助器、太陽能集中、和一種將豬的排泄物轉變成乾淨土壤肥料的新模式。目前，則還加入了兩項新技術──熱幫浦熱水器和回收工業廢料，如廢熱氣和可燃氣體發電等。
紐約時報暢銷書《綠領經濟》（The Green Collar Economy）作者、「環保為主」（Green for All ）創始人與會長瓊斯（Van Jones）則主張，建造那令馬丁路德驕傲的綠色經濟。他說，我們的作法將是確保綠領工作不僅出現在鄉村和郊區，更要在市區發生。「我們的道德原則是，首先要綠化少數族群聚居區，給年輕人放下手槍、拿起銲槍的機會。」賓州州長藍德爾（Ed Rendell）說，特別小組的力量應該透過再生投資組合標準和政府公權力來進行改造，鼓勵創造綠色能源技術的市場。
費城市長納特（Michael Nutter）也把創造綠領工作作為其經濟發展的主要焦點。「不論你擁有高中學歷或博士學位，我們都能在這座城市提供你綠色的工作機會。」他說。費城永續企業網路正在設計一項擴及全城的綠領工作學徒計畫，該組織資金來自騎士基金會一筆12.5萬美元的經費補助。綠領工作公司將著重在雇主需要的基本技術訓練，並致力於連結當地環保公司與區域性的勞動力。
「這兩次的努力將為低工資的工人開啟機會之門，提供其在職涯向上發展的階梯，同時鞏固其在地區綠色經濟的領導地位。」騎士基金的計畫主管柏克海瑟（Matt Bergheiser）說。費城AFL首席資訊長埃丁（Pat Eiding）贊成這項新行動。「這個勞動運動討論的優質環保工作，提供工作者一個職涯發展，而非只是一個工作。有組織的勞動力在這種聯盟環境中最合適不過了，因為我們具有共同目標︰關心環境，並且創造訓練、發展，以及能提供優渥工資福利的就業機會。」
Creating green jobs is the first order of business for the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families. Led by Vice President Joe Biden, the Task Force held its inaugural meeting today in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania.
"At a time when good jobs and good wages are harder and harder to come by - it is critical we find new and innovative work opportunities for middle class families," said Biden. "That's why we're here today - to learn and listen about how investing in green jobs can help build a strong middle class."
President Barack Obama last week announced more than $20 billion for investment in a cleaner, greener economy, including $500 million for green job training. A new Task Force report released at the meeting shows that investment will help to create tens of thousands of high-quality green jobs.
The report finds that green jobs pay 10 to 20 percent more than others. Green jobs are more likely to be unionized than other jobs, which the Task Force report says will help to "strengthen middle class families and provide pathways into the middle class for disadvantaged workers."
Successful green job models in cities and states across America require government leadership to get the engine of green job growth started, according to the report.
Today, six cabinet secretaries, including newly confirmed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, the author of the Green Jobs Act, participated in the meeting as members of Middle Class Task Force.
"Our commitment to renewable energy is creating green jobs and bolstering America's middle class. Advancing broadband access to rural America will help save middle class jobs while greatly expanding job opportunities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
"Green jobs aren't just jobs of the future, they are jobs of today. By investing in our nation's greatest asset - its people - we cannot only reduce dependency on foreign oil and emissions in the future, but also restore economic security for all today," said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "HUD has an important role to play in building a standardized energy efficiency market for the housing sector, which will create hundreds of thousands of green jobs, lower utility costs for consumers and reduce carbon emissions nationwide."
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, "Economic recovery is about more than making sure that Wall Street rebounds or the big banks survive; a true recovery means an economy that works for middle class families. That's why the Obama-Biden plan to invest in renewable energy and make our homes and businesses more efficient is so critical. We can create millions of new jobs, save families money on their energy bills and end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil."
Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, demonstrated a new interactive map of key industries with the potential to create new jobs as a result of investment in clean energy, particularly in states hit hard by industrial losses. "When I see less carbon, I also see more jobs," he said.
The "Manufacturing Climate Solutions" version of November 2008 shows the most promising technologies to be LED lighting, high-performance windows, auxiliary power units for trucks, concentrating solar power, and a new way of treating hog wastes by turning them into clean soil nutrients.
This month two new technologies were added - heat pump water heaters, and recycling industrial waste energy such as exhaust heat and combustible gases to generate electricity.
Van Jones, president and founder of Green for All and author of the New York Times bestseller, "The Green Collar Economy," talked about building "a green economy that Dr. Martin Luther King would be proud of." The way to do that, he said, is to make sure green jobs crop up not just in rural and suburban areas, but also in urban areas.
"There is a moral principle to green the ghetto first, to give young people the chance to put down that handgun and pick up a caulking gun," Jones said to enthusiastic applause.
Governor Ed Rendell said the Task Force should encourage creation of markets for green energy technologies through renewable portfolio standards and use of the power of the government as a consumer to make change.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is making green jobs a major focus in his economic development work. "Whether you have a GED or a PHD, we've got a green job for you in Philly," he said.
A city-wide green jobs apprenticeship program is being designed by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, funded by a $125,000 Knight Foundation planning grant. The Green Jobs Corps will aim to match basic skills training with employers?needs and strive to connect local green companies to the region's workforce.
"These two efforts will open the doors of opportunity for low-wage workers to advance into career ladder jobs, while cementing the region's leadership in the green economy," said Matt Bergheiser, program director for Knight Foundation.
Pat Eiding, president of Philadelphia AFL-CIO, applauded the new initiatives. "The labor movement talks about good green jobs providing workers a career and not just a job. Organized labor is a natural fit in this coalition because we share common goals: we both care about the environment and want to create training, development and career opportunities that provide good wages with benefits."
