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Vets Going Green

By Pat Racimora on May 21, 2009 at 7:35 PM in Current Affairs, Environment

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The New York Times carried an interesting little story about what some vets are doing when they return home. It seems many have special skills that are being put to good use on the environmental front.

More and more veterans are entering the energy-efficiency sector. There are reasons for this. Many are experts at safety measures and running equipment, have engineering expertise, and want to work outdoors. There is even a new organization called Veterans Green Jobs that is training vets for jobs that work towards energy independence. Their website worth a peek.

Here is their mission:

Veterans Green Jobs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization developing an unprecedented national initiative to offer creative and concrete solutions for three of the most urgent issues of our time: rebuilding a sustainable green economy; reversing deteriorating environmental conditions and climate change threats; and reengaging our nation’s nearly 2 million military service veterans who need meaningful new careers. The Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ provides job training and placement opportunities for military veterans in the emerging green industries. Veterans Green Jobs connects veterans with a wide range of complimentary resources to assist with establishing civilian careers.

The most prominent among the military personnel turned green is General Wes Clark who has been pushing for energy efficiency and a cleaner environment for years. General Clark currently co-chairs Growth Energy and in on the board of Juhl Wind. But it is also heartening to know that less-famous soldiers are headed for continuing their service to their country in a new capacity.

  • Solara 9

    Nice story. I LOVE General Clark! I wish he had a major position in our government but he probably is too smart (and honest) for that.

    • Dawnelle

      He was smart enough to see a PHONY in Odrama.

      and he’s turning HIS WORDS (just words) into REAL TRUTH (and action)

      Seeing is believing.

      So I wonder when ODrama will finally put some TRUTH to his WORDS (oh wait you can’t put truth to words that don’t really belong to you right?)

      Those words would be Devals

      Right ON Gen. Clark, SIR! (s a l u t e)

    • http://veteransgreenjobs.org Emily

      We love Wesley Clark, too – he is actually also on the Advisory Board of Veterans Green Jobs, the nonprofit organization profiled above.

  • Linda Mac

    Green-ness is such an important issue. I have not always been a huge fan of Al Gore although I campaigned my heart out for him; however, he is absolutely right about the delicacy of our planet. Thank you for bringing this to our attention and to the wonderful veterans,including Wes Clark, who are concerned and working to make our country and our planet safe for our children and grandchildren.

  • http://www.ambiguousarts.com KAF

    Great article – thanks for posting it!

    Yep – Wes Clark is pretty amazing! I always wonder when he has time to sleep. Seems he never stops moving, never slows down, never stops being of service to our country, and planet too. Just heard yesterday he’s added another great group to support: http://www.BeyondTribute.org to benefit veterans.

  • http://www.rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com/ Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

    Great post, Pat! Wes Clark is a shining light, and has been for some time (what an asset he would have been in a Clinton Administration. And it would have been nice if he didn’t end up being so gung-ho for Obama, but whatever…).

    But this is good news. Thanks!

    • donjo

      Sorry, RRRA, but he was doing his Dem duty; he was never and will never be a rah rah ass kisser of Obama.

      • Tom Cat “wodiej” Jefferson Esq

        Dem duty? His loyalty should have been to this country not to the Democratic party.

        As for green, there are hundreds of ways to preserve and take care of our environment and require little effort. We have recycling pick up in our city. Most don’t use it. It’s pretty damn lazy when a person can’t even throw an empty plastic container in a recycling bin.

        • Tricia Spiegel

          I think he would have liked to have been part of the action and continue to serve our country in some major capacity–and aligning with a party is the way to do that (unfortunately).

          Clark has served his country proud for almost 40 years–a true hero in my book.

          Yes, you are also right that there area lot of things we all can do–but I can’t start a wind farm.

        • donjo

          So, he was supposed to call you up and ask for advice?

  • Rich

    Nice Cartoon. I have been thinking about the vets and their ability to find jobs in this bad job market. Now knowing that many of them are perfect for going green and getting green jobs is music to my ears and heart.

    Thank you, Rich

  • Diana

    Wonderful article. Thank you for sharing it with us. I think what they’re doing is fantastic and I wish them great sucess. I’ve been trying to talk my husband into making us a rooftop windmill. I have a six foot windmill in the back yard that I think we could also hook up. It’s always spinning. It may not make a huge difference, but every little bit helps. I do believe a lot of what is happening right now is natural, however I also believe we do plenty on both sides of the environmental issue to cause harm that needs to be corrected.

  • Don X

    Important issue to address, Pat. The interest in green industries will no doubt proliferate in the near future. They are being heavily touted by the Obama administration. It is good that there are emerging opportunities for returning veterans to become involved. As an aside, back in Kansas where I grew up in the 30′s there were windmills pumping well water on many farms. In high wind corridor areas like near Palm Springs wind farms have been active for many years. For the past 2 years T. Boone Pickens has been barnstormng for and investing heavily in wind energy as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Check out this site for the Pickens Plan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickens_Plan. The success of the various green ventures and alternative energy efforts usually boils down to whether they can become economically profitable. Federal subsidies (yikes!) may be necessary to get some of them off the ground.

  • KSS

    And think how much better this would be if global warming wasn’t a complete fraud backed by Al Gore’s fantasy junk science.

    How we continue to be held hostage by a bunch of loony environmental wack jobs whose entire premise is based on cooked numbers and pseudo-science is beyond me.

    Even the founder of Greenpeace says they’re insane.

    • Diana

      We have to look beyond the radicals. There is plenty we do to screw up the Environment that takes Mother Nature centuries to catch up too. On both sides of the coin. It is still our responsibility to leave behind something better for our children/grandchildren.

      Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children. ~Native American Quote.

  • camille

    Very creative image, as always, Pat! I love Wes Clark, and what a waste for our country and the world for him not to be in the top U.S. Leadership position with or without Hillary. Perhaps Hillary will call on him yet! Yes, he stumped for o out of his highly developed sense of duty – it still made my stomach churn. Not surprised that he continues to serve in his “green” role.

  • I’m a Linda too

    Great news, thank you for this post.

  • http://www.greenteadietsecret.com/ I’m a Linda too

    Great news, thank you for this post.
    Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

  • Clara

    Thank you for this great and important story. So many vets complete their duty and come home to no job.

    As for Wes Clark, he’s been a personal hero of mine for years and as he’s done so often in the past, his vision for our country and her needs have put him out front on this issue since long before the current admministration and the Green Push. Gen. Clark has been focusing on energy needs and alternative methods for years.

  • Mandelay

    Thank you for bringing this good news … what an uplifting story. And thanks for such a great piece of artwork … very, very nice!

  • http://www.veteransgreenjobs.org Garett Reppenhagen

    Thanks for the shout out,
    The Phase I of our training is just about to complete.
    We have a huge graduation at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado with the guest speaker Governor Bill Ritter.
    Join us for the after party at The Mercury Cafe with live music from 6PM on.
    Garett

    • Pat Racimora

      Thanks for visiting our No Quarter blog, Garrett. Keep up the great work you are doing. It’s a pleasure to do positive stories during these difficult times.