Lisa Zhu | Philly's greener future

As part of the effort to reinvigorate America's economy and achieve energy independence, Obama proposes investing $150 billion over the next 10 years in alternative fuel technology. Obama claims this policy measure will create five million new "green-collar" jobs.

Assuming our government can find the money to pay for the program, this could be a rare opportunity to achieve progress for every population segment in the United States. "There is real potential for using this new investment to help a very broad range of communities and workers of all income levels," said Political Science professor Don Kettl. But so far, the growth of renewable energy companies has only significantly helped small, blue-collar towns and rural areas, not de-industrialized secondary cities like Philadelphia.

For instance, a November 2008 New York Times article described the successful reemployment of laid-off Maytag factory workers at a wind turbine production plant. Unfortunately, the scenario probably wouldn't play out in a city since the costs of maintaining large-scale manufacturing operations in an urban area are just too high.

The challenges of revitalizing a declined city like Philadelphia, Detroit or Baltimore are difficult. According to Urban Studies professor Dominic Vitiello, "There are a few cities like New York, Boston and Chicago that were devastated by the shift of manufacturing but succeeded in rebuilding themselves as robust service centers."

Similarly, there are huge potential gains for the city that can succeed in remaking itself as a hub of green technology in the United States. Just as the biotechnology industry in Boston grew from the heavy concentration of research institutions and hospitals, a city would serve as an important space for the intellectual exchange of sustainable ideas. However, the green-collar jobs that Obama proposes would only go so far in accomplishing such a goal. According to the President-elect's Web site, the administration intends to renovate at least one million low-income homes annually to improve energy efficiency.

But in Philly, this sort of large-scale construction project does not translate into job increases for all communities. "Building trade unions simply do not let in minority and low-wealth members at this point," said Vitiello. "In cities where there's a minority-majority like Philadelphia . it's overwhelmingly white, Irish Catholics who have succeeded in excluding minorities from higher paid trade [positions], such as electricians and sheet metal workers"

Moreover, unlike more skilled occupations, these construction and trade industry jobs don't necessarily contribute to a city's long-term ability to innovate and develop. If Philadelphia wants to become a national center for green technology, it needs to be more proactive in attracting companies and research institutions that have a sustainable focus - instead of only depending on federal government support.

Philly has the foundation to make this vision a reality. The City currently serves as the U.S. headquarters for the Spanish wind turbine manufacturer, Gamesa Energy, which recently opened two factories in Pennsylvania. Indeed, Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge has become a hot spot for numerous wind farm projects, which makes Philadelphia an attractive location for an urban headquarters. And of course, Philly is home to one of the premier scientific research institutions in the country, our dear old University of Pennsylvania.

Currently, Penn's Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee has a subcommittee devoted to investigating the role of sustainability in academic affairs.

In addition, the administration should focus on recruiting more faculty members with expertise in the area and developing more research opportunities on energy and green technology.

If Penn can achieve a fraction of what it has accomplished in biotechnology and the life sciences, it would have a major impact on the city's economy for many years to come.

In other words, while green-collar jobs in manufacturing and construction are important for reducing unemployment, we should not be focusing on them as a solution to our problems.

Ultimately, we need both high-tech and low-skilled job opportunities to transform Philadelphia from an economically depressed relic of a bygone manufacturing era into a booming, green technology hub of the future.

Lisa Zhu is a Wharton and College senior from Cherry Hill, N.J., and United Minorities Council chairwoman. Her e-mail is zhu@dailypennsylvanian.com. Zhu-ology appears every Thursday.

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