KY Launches "Clean Energy Corps"

Kentucky has launched a new program designed to weatherize low income homes and save both residents and state government money on utility bills.  The Clean Energy Corps also includes plans to put more people to work making eligible homes more energy efficient.  Part of the money for the program will come from the anticipated federal stimulus package, which must be spent by the end of 2010.  Finance and Administration Secretary Jonathan Miller says that means the state must hurry to get the new green collar workforce ready.“It will be incumbent on us to work right away to get folks across the state trained in auditing, trained in green construction.  A lot of this will involve folks that are in the construction business but are out of jobs right now because of the lack of growth in that area, and giving them the special skills they need for these green technologies," says Miller.Some of the training efforts will take place at community colleges.  The program is in a pilot phase now, but Miller says he expects the Clean Energy Corps to create more than 3000 new jobs.