Green Collar Training for Bay Area Residents

The One Block Off The Grid (1BOG) team is proud to count themselves among the 2 million+ Americans who hold green jobs, jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring environmental quality. 1BOG has a proven community business model that the company is now harnessing to expand their social impact by putting some community force behind the green collar job community. Yesterday, 1BOG and installer partner groSolar announced a pilot partnership with Solar Richmond, an East Bay nonprofit that provides green job training to low income Bay Area residents.

1BOG, a subsidiary of Virgance, is a community solar purchasing program that provides impartial advice and solar group discounts on solar to homeowners. 1BOG is currently running a campaign in the Bay Area with installer partner groSolar, and through January 31, 2010 is offering solar for only $5.53 per watt.

When Bay Area's 1BOG members opt in for the opportunity to support this green jobs program, a Solar Richmond Green Collar graduate will work on their home solar installation to gain real-world work experience and a two day transitional training that can significantly boost their employability. A small fee, matched by 1BOG and groSolar will fund the on the job training for the Solar Richmond graduate. By increasing the demand for solar panels and now contributing to developing solar jobs for underemployed communities, 1BOG is towing the Virgance line of activism and capitalism with addressing social issues through environmental training.

A recent study by The United States Green Building Council found there are over 2 million green jobs in the US today and predicts that this number will grow to over 7 million in the next four years. Green jobs of all kinds are essential to stimulating job growth in the midst of the current recession when so many other industries are suffering. The Obama administration has made the promotion of green industries and jobs a part of their stimulus package. President Obama's "Cash for Caulkers" program is an example of combining the goals of improving the environment and creating jobs. While this program is new, the hope is that Americans will see an increase in the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and support for green businesses and jobs over the next few months.