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Congressman Sestak Highlights Local Green Economy Success Story and Local Green Jobs TrainingCongressman Sestak Highlights Local Green Economy Success Story and Local Green Jobs Training States we are moving in the right direction, but much more needs to be done Philadelphia, PA – Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) held a press conference today to highlight that further steps need to be taken to green our economy and increase our global competiveness. The event spotlighted the efforts of a local entrepreneur, who recently repurchased his business from a Spanish-owned company, and the Community College of Philadelphias Green Jobs Training Program. Brent Alderfer is the founder of the first wind power company east of the Mississippi, Community Energy Inc. He and his partners sold Community Energy to a Spanish company in 2006 when uncertainly in the domestic renewable market led to an inability to get domestic investors for its projects. Then earlier this year, he and his partners decided to again go out on their own as recent federal incentives and prospects for future policy changes led him to believe that an American-owned renewable energy company could survive. “We are falling behind the rest of the world,” said Congressman Sestak. “We need serious investment, both private and public, to make our economy more efficient and green. To do that we need the right combination of policies to help sustain renewable energys momentum and the right incentives so we can create a stable market for capital investment and work to combat climate change with a home-grown American industry.” Congressman Sestak also noted that a third ingredient is needed to feed the growth of the green economy and that is proper education and training. That is why he has co-sponsored the Community College Energy Training Act of 2009 to export and expand upon the efforts such as the Community College of Philadelphias Green Jobs Training Program. “America has all the right tools to lead the world to a more sustainable and greener economy,” said Congressman Sestak. “What is needed is leadership and commitment. And right here today we see the seeds of what can develop if the right decisions are made. The United States has been stuck for too long and let other nations like Spain and German take the lead. China has recognized what is at stake and has invested billions. With the steps taken this year with the $60 billion in green investments in the Economic Stimulus bill, the $2.2 billion energy efficiency and renewable energy investment in the Energy and Water Appropriation, and the Houses passage of climate change legislation, we have taken steps in the right directions; however, much more needs to be done from greater incentives for renewable development, to increased funding for training programs, such as what is here at the Community College of Pennsylvania, to the Senate passing meaningful climate change legislation this year.” R. Brent Alderfer, President, Community Energy, Inc. Brent Alderfer is President and Founder of Community Energy, Inc., which has been a leading renewable energy company since it successfully marketed the first wind generation in the Northeast ten years ago. That early success paved the way in Pennsylvania for a new wind energy industry. From 2006 to 2009 Community Energy joined Iberdrola Renewables, the largest renewable energy company in the world, building over thousand megawatts of new wind generation. Independently, Community Energy continues to market and develop solar and wind projects in the mid-Atlantic and mid-West. Prior to forming Community Energy Inc., Brent served as a Colorado Public Utility Commissioner and became a leading national spokesperson for new and renewable energy technologies. As a Commissioner, Brent led the Energy Resources and the Environment Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, promoting policy to open electric markets to new, renewable and distributed generation. He coauthored the report, Making Connections, published by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1999 on utility interconnection of renewable and distributed generation. An electrical engineer and a lawyer, Brent practiced law for fifteen years, representing development-stage companies through start up and public offering. Brent holds an electrical engineering degree from Northeastern University, 1974, and a law degree from Georgetown University, 1977. Community College of Philadelphia Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City. Since 1965, over 500,000 students have passed through our doors seeking associate's degrees, certificates, improved workplace skills and lifelong learning. Many of our degree students transfer to four-year institutions while others seek employment in the Philadelphia region. Over 90 percent of our graduates remain in the area and seek employment, strengthening our local economy and workforce. Local businesses look to us to provide workplace training to keep their workers skilled and their companies competitive. Community College of Philadelphia is already training workers for “green jobs.” The Community College Energy Training Act would allow the College, and the more than 1,100 community colleges throughout the nation, to continue to build their capacity to offer “green jobs” educational courses and programs. The College and its Corporate Solutions unit is focusing not just on technology, but on green technology and its applications. Corporate Solutions is offering several green jobs training courses, such as Green Home Basics -- a series of workshops designed for architects, builders, property managers and realtors that focuses on analyzing building projects with an emphasis on sustainable design principles. The College also provides training that helps people become installers, crew chiefs and energy analysts in the rapidly growing field of weatherizing homes and businesses; and the College is working as a partner with the Energy Coordinating Agency, a 25-year-old, non-profit corporation that helps residents conserve energy, to obtain grants that will allow the College to expand its green training and education programs. In November, the College will begin offering a new program for design and construction professionals seeking the U.S. Green Building Councils “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) professional certification. The College also is an authorized testing center for numerous green-related national certifications, such as the green advantage, energy manager, carbon reduction manager and sustainable development professional certifications. The College incorporates sustainable design, construction and operations principles and applications into its associate degree programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management, Computer-Assisted Design Technology and Facility Management. Finally, the College practices what it teaches in that it has embarked on $87 million in new construction at its Main Campus and at its Northeast Regional Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Expected to be completed soon, the Main Campus project – which will include, among other things, a green roof -- is expected to qualify for LEED Silver certification, and the Northeast Regional Center – which will include a geothermal well field with more than 200 wells that will support heating and air conditioning -- is expected to qualify for LEED gold certification. Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including as Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, he was the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navys anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the “Global War on Terrorism.” He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
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