New Research: Community Impact Of Green Manufacturing – Bethia Burke, President, The Fund For Our Economic Future
Release Date: 11/14/2024
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“Food systems have to do with everything from production to processing, distribution, and the utilization. Then of course, end of life for food systems which includes food waste. In the United States, 40% of the food that we produce goes to waste. This means with distribution challenges that not everybody has equitable access to the kinds of foods that they need and want, at the times that they need them." Robin Currey on Electric Ladies Podcast Climate change is disrupting our food and agriculture systems, including the critical supply chains that feed and clothe us. Yet,...
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“We did lots of infrastructure investments over the last handful of years to make sure our communities are in the best possible place they can be. And we complemented federal investment with workforce investment to ensure Michiganders are getting access to those kinds of roles, some of which didn't even exist previously. [This ensures] that Michigan communities could benefit from learning to be solar installers and get access to new economic income streams.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast The Justice Department is suing Michigan over its climate initiatives under the Clean Air...
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“Blue state pension funds are doubling down on sustainability while red state pension funds are firing you. Companies are challenged because for some constituencies, they have to demonstrate their sustainability credentials, and for others, they have to hide them. So it's a really challenging time. But if you can demonstrate the business case, then maybe you can navigate being more proactive with those constituencies that really want this, and alleviating the risks with those constituencies that don't understand why it matters.” Tensie Whelan on Electric Ladies Podcast Mother Nature...
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“I've been particularly passionate about working with women in those communities to teach them about new techniques so they can understand how to run their farm more effectively, but also understand their rights as women in those communities so they have a stronger voice…. And because they were called an ‘ambassador,’ their status in the village rose.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast Have you ever wondered where your shirt really comes from, or where the cotton in your jeans was grown? While the tag might tell you where they were made, it won't tell you where the cotton...
info_outline“It's really that investment to transition from a legacy industry into a future industry…that is aiming to drive more sustainability and manufacturing processes and products overall…One of the things that we fundamentally see as being important in this economic shift, and we say it in this Practical Guide to the Green Economy, is that this transition we believe will favor places that make things.… and we want to make them better and more sustainable.” Bethia Burke on Electric Ladies Podcast
Green jobs, economic development from growing these new energy and sustainability sectors. We talk a lot about these, but what are the real facts? What are the green jobs and energy jobs? Where are they really being created and what impact are these “green jobs” having on their local economies? Today we’re going to get the facts from a brand new study on these issues, fresh from the Heartland in Ohio.
Listen to Bethia Burke, President, The Fund For Our Economic Future, share their findings and lessons for other communities in this “new” economy in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She also shares insightful career advice.
You’ll hear about:
- What their study found about “green jobs” and local economies, including job (re)training.
- What lessons other communities can take from Ohio’s experience – including in their Practical Guide to the Green Economy.
- Why manufacturing based on sustainable business attracts more workers, enhances communities and helps people stay where they are.
- How the Infrastructure Investment Act, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act have been huge boosts to Ohio – and how other communities can tap them too.
- Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“Often we put women in these do-gooder roles, and, these socially beneficial roles, and they take significantly lower salaries because part of what they want to achieve is service and positive societal benefits forward.…(but) ask for a higher salary, even if it is in a social service oriented sector.… I think any woman in any job, whatever she is trying to achieve…take whatever you think your level is, and add at least 20% because you're definitely underselling yourself.” Betha Burke on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.
You'll also like:
- Rachel McCleery, Senior Advisor, Treasury Dept. Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how to leverage the IRA to save money reducing a building or business’s energy use and carbon footprint.
- Rachel Frazin, The Hill Climate & Energy Reporter, on the climate policies in Project 2025, former President Trump’s agenda as he seeks re-election.
- Gina McCarthy, fmr White House National Climate Policy Advisor, fmr EPA Administrator, on how climate investments boost the economy, locally and nationally.
- Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy.
- Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy & Tara Narayanan, of Bloomberg NEF on their new Energy Factbook 2024, including the Inflation Reduction Act opportunities.
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