On March 24, 2009, PSEG and the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, hosted a meeting of leading New Jersey employers, educators, unions, and government officials to discuss ways that energy occupations and "green jobs" can contribute to job creation and economic recovery in the state, as well as how the state can ensure employers have access to a skilled energy workforce. The conference, entitled “Green Jobs and Beyond: A Roundtable to Address Workforce Development in the Emerging Energy Economy and the Economic Recovery,” included prominent panelists from the public and private sectors.

The event began with an introduction by Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director of the Heldrich Center and was followed by brief taped remarks from Represenative Rush Holt on the federal economic stimulus package for energy and green jobs training.  The first panel, moderated by Aaron Fichtner, the Director of Research and Evaluation at the Heldrich Center, focused on how state and federal policy toward clean energy are expected to affect the New Jersey workforce. Speakers included:    

• Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula

• Assemblyman Wayne D'Angelo

• Kenny Esser, Chief Energy Advisor to Governor Jon S. Corzine

• Jeanne Fox, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

• Tim Lizura, Senior Vice President of Business Development, New Jersey   Economic Development Authority

Kathy Krepcio moderated a second panel that discussed employer workforce needs and education and training strategies to meet the emerging skill needs of employers. Speakers on the second panel included:
 
• Wyatt Earp, President of the Central Labor Council (Monmouth & Ocean Counties), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

• Marty Johnson, Executive Director, Isles

• William Mullen, President, New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO                                                                                                                                        
• Margaret M. Pego, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer, PSEG

• David Socolow,  Commissioner, NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development

• Jane Oates, Executive Director, NJ Commission on Higher Education

The event also included an overview of the Heldrich Center's research on green jobs and occupations in New Jersey's energy economy, as well as a keynote speech by Ralph Izzo, Chairman, President, and CEO of PSEG.  Mr. Izzo's concluding keynote speech addressed "The Vital Role of New Jersey's Emerging Energy Economy in Addressing Global Climate Change & Leading the Nation's Economic Recovery."

A full conference report highlighting the days event is forthcoming and will be made available on this website.  To learn more, download  a copy of the Heldrich Center's presentation on the workforce needs of the state's energy economy and green jobs.

Other recent Heldrich research reports on green jobs and skills include “Preparing the Workforce for a ‘Green Jobs’ Economy" and “Growing Jobs By Going Green.”