Being both a candidate and a sustainability educator, I am frequently asked "if there's anything to this green economy stuff." The answer is yes, and Fayetteville can help build it and take advantage of its potential.
It's very simple: we have a lot of work to do to save ourselves from climate change, and a lot of work means a lot of jobs. There are a lot of jobs in research and in weatherizing buildings. Fayetteville already has a great start creating research-based jobs at the University and the Research and Technology Park, but we haven't been taking advantage of the jobs in the efficiency sector.
One of the most important parts in the climate change fight is changing the way we use energy. Our buildings waste so much energy, weatherizing and retrofitting them is a big part of the solution. In Northwest Arkansas, it can be a big part of our economy, too. Our construction industry, desperate for almost any job, could be put to work fixing our buildings. We need to take advantage of this opportunity, because a skilled labor force forms the base of our city revenue stream.
To attract green businesses and maintain our tax base, I will work to create a green job training center that is integrated with the existing workforce centers, community colleges, and technical training institutes.
