Hello all,

Back to the issues and how Edwards is leading and promoting ideas that go to solving several problems in this country. He announced a new plan to promote the development of green collar jobs, investing in TRAINING high schoolers and college students in the renewable energy field so we can slowly start pulling up to Europe on renewable energy. Have a look

The initiative announced today would ensure that this aggressive battle against global warming also translates into new Iowa jobs. In particular, the Edwards plan will:

Provide Green Collar Jobs Training Grants that will help train and certify up to 150,000 workers a year for jobs in the new energy economy - meeting the needs of industry and Americans seeking better jobs and opportunity, as well as our environment.

Create 50,000 stepping-stone jobs in the new energy economy. As part of his plan to end poverty in America, Edwards called for the creation of government-subsidized stepping stone jobs that give people with barriers to employment a chance to learn new skills and work their way up. Edwards would dedicate 50,000 of these jobs to companies involved in the new energy economy.

Use grant funding to encourage partnerships between states, businesses, labor unions, community groups and educators to train these workers - so that workers actually get the skills and training that businesses need.

Provide grant funding to community colleges to partner with companies involved in the new energy economy to develop job training programs specifically tailored to meet needs of this growing industry.

Ensure that high school students are prepared for jobs in the new energy economy. Edwards would create Green Career Academies -- small learning communities within high schools that use a college preparatory curriculum with a career theme and engage employers, unions, and local colleges to participate.

Hey look common sense, boldness and looking to the future for workers who need to be prepared for the new economy!!

So what we have here folks is someone who is not just pandering to the environmental cause because it sounds good and they can get creds for saying they want to save the planet. Here is someone who realizes that renewable energy is not only the way to save the planet, but will help the economy AND that if the USA does not start learning these trades NOW we will be left EVEN FURTHER BEHIND other countries then we already are.

How's that for leadership?

This is on his website.

and a parting quote from Edwards on what this is about:

Lending a Hand Up with Green Collar Stepping Stone Jobs: Many willing workers cannot find jobs because of the place they live, a lack of skills, experience, and references, or other obstacles like a criminal record. Up to 18 percent of former welfare recipients do not have a job. Too many welfare-to-work and employment service programs have slotted people into easily available jobs with low pay, few benefits, and no room for advancement. Edwards will create 50,000 government-subsidized Green Collar Stepping Stone jobs for hard-to-serve job-seekers. Green Collar Stepping Stone jobs will not be dead-end jobs. Workers will receive on-the-job training and work toward a training credential. Studies have shown that skills certification programs are critical for lower-skilled workers' efforts to move up. Employers who hire Stepping Stone graduates and offer living wages and benefits will be eligible for existing Work Opportunity Tax Credits and given preference in public contracts.