RALLY PROMOTES GREEN JOBS

NEW ORLEANS - The national economy might be a disaster, but that hasn't deterred a number of local nonprofits and the City of New Orleans from spreading optimism about the budding "green" economy in south Louisiana.

Whether it's new solar installers, energy auditors or green building specialists, so-called green-collar jobs are popping up in New Orleans, and, if they continue to grow, they promise to foster both the city's growing environmental consciousness as well as its economy.

To help encourage such a trend, the national nonprofit Green For All is hosting a "day of action" with events around the country, including a "Green Jobs Now" rally in New Orleans today to raise support for building a healthy green workforce.

The rally is designed in part to remove the veneer of elitism from the environmental movement, portraying it as an important economic concern rather than a cause celebre of those wealthy enough to buy cutting-edge green technology, said John Moore, energy policy analyst for the city.

"People have been really focused in terms of the green economy on some of the higher, what they call 'eco-elite,' parts of the green movement, and I think that this is really going to bring the green movement down to earth," Moore said. "It's going to be talking to those folks who are going to be putting those solar panels up and showing them how they are included in this economy as well. It's a huge opportunity for folks to plug in who are normally left out of this conversation when it comes to green."

The main event is an afternoon rally at Lafayette Square Park with live music from Shamarr Allen, remarks from City Council members and local environmental leaders, and information from a host of environmental organizations, said Nicole Godfrey with the New Orleans Council for Community Justice.

The rally will be buttressed by service work events and open houses for environmental organizations throughout the city. The Alliance for Affordable Energy will host a premier of its New Orleans BuildSmart learning center, an 1,800-square-foot full-scale model demonstration of best practices for energy-efficient heating and cooling, insulation, lighting and water use; and Global Green will host a tour of its sustainably built house in Holy Cross.

But while spreading the message of green building to consumers is always a concern for New Orleans' environmentalists, Moore said that today's event is about how green building and alternative energy can support a new workforce and economy.

"We really need to encourage businesses by having a green workforce that's here and ready, so that we're not just inviting folks to come into a dead market, but a fertile market that's going to be worth their investment," he said.

. . . . . . .

Molly Reid can be reached at mreid@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3448.

GREEN JOBS NOW

WHAT: A rally to raise awareness and garner support for "green-collar" jobs

WHEN: Today, 2 to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Lafayette Square Park

WHO: Green For All, New Orleans Council for Community Justice, Conservation Corps of Greater New Orleans, City of New Orleans and others

ADMISSION: Free

GREEN JOBS NOW

'DAY OF ACTION' EVENTS

-- An open house at the Alliance for Affordable Energy's BuildSmart learning center, today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1001 S. Broad St.

-- Tours of the Global Green sustainable home in Holy Cross, today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 409 Andry St.

-- A community planting and salvage project hosted by the Arc of GNO's Louisiana Green Corps, the Old City Building Center and the Lafayette Square Conservancy, today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lafayette Square, 601 S. Maestri Place

-- Tours of a sustainably renovated home, including a demonstration of a blower door weatherization test, today from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1441 St. Roch St.