I recently heard an interesting phrase, "green collar jobs." Everyone has heard of white collar jobs and blue collar jobs, but what are green collar jobs?

Green collar jobs are created by the fast-growing industries related to the environment, such as recycling or alternative energy. Recent United Nations statistics show that 5.3 million jobs were generated in the U.S. economy in 2005 in the environmental industry, and recycling centers alone are creating 1.1 million jobs. Green collar jobs are an opportunity for Thornton to grow our job base innovatively and responsibly, but how do we do that?

We need to put our money where our mouth is. The city council recently increased recycling pickups to twice a month, and the city ought to develop other environmentally-friendly policies. For example, we should mandate that when the city purchases fleet vehicles they ought to be hybrids, as long as the cost of the vehicle is similar to other alternatives. If Thornton becomes an innovative leader for the environment, we will be better positioned to attract like-minded industries.

Thornton also should seek public-private partnerships to generate jobs. One major opportunity is bio-fuel and ethanol production. Every year the city generates thousands of tons of organic waste that ultimately end up in landfills, but that waste could be used to generate fuel. With a partnership with a private entity, we could utilize our waste to produce bio-fuel that could power city vehicles and sold commercially. This enterprise would generate jobs and potentially spin off allied industries to support it.

Finally, Thornton needs a plan and a vision to target these industries. Colorado is well-positioned as pro-environment, and our alternative energy and technology sectors are some of the largest in the country. If we make it a priority to target these industries we can generate jobs and stimulate the economy of Thornton.

Green collar jobs are a win-win. They generate jobs in responsible way, which is something that people of all socio-political persuasions can get behind. Let's make this a priority in Thornton.