Guest post by Kate Robertson, Energy Efficiency Specialist for Environmental Defense Fund and author for the Texas Green Jobs Guidebook.
In this challenging economy, Texans are looking for rewarding careers that can put them on the path toward financial stability. However, many are unfamiliar with the opportunities offered by the growing green economy, which is why I wrote the Texas Green Jobs Guidebook. This guidebook is designed to be a resource for job seekers, career advisors, policy makers and anyone else interested in the potential for green jobs in Texas.
I found that the opportunities for water resources-related green jobs are growing fast, as you might imagine. Since Texas is the fastest growing state in the U.S., demands on our water system are at an all-time high. Coupled with growth are problems such as severe drought, which affected all or part of the state in 2008 and 2009.
Cities across the state are taking action to conserve water in the following ways, and generating jobs in the process.
- With San Antonio taking the lead in water conservation, other cities are beginning to develop plans for conserving water and recycling wastewater.
- Water conservation is also a critical component in the electricity sector, as evidenced by its designation as a critical component in Austin’s Pecan Street Project, which will begin demonstration projects of potential technologies in 2010.
- Although cities use approximately one quarter of the water in Texas, irrigated agriculture consumes 60 percent and manufacturing 10 percent.
- Another issue for water is increased water loss through leakage from old pipes, and many Texas cities have policies to perform water audits and replace old pipes in the coming years, based on the age of pipes.
As supplies become scarcer, increased conservation measures will be necessary. And with those measures, come green jobs.
If you want hard copies of the report to distribute or have any questions, let me know or leave a comment.
Below are charts of the various green water-related jobs available in Texas, including job descriptions, salary ranges and education and experience requirements. Click on each job for a larger view, or read this section of the report.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |