Jay Inslee: “I rise with Mr. Sarbanes to offer an amendment today that will establish an energy conservation corps program. This will…”

“I rise with Mr. Sarbanes to offer an amendment today that will establish an energy conservation corps program. This will provide green collar training and educational service grants to nonprofit organizations, universities, and State and local governments. This is really an exciting opportunity for us to create opportunities for young folks to be engaged in this new revolution of clean energy in this country. The energy conservation corps we envisioned will help revitalize communities and preserve and restore the environment, while also preparing young people for the responsible and productive lives we know they are going to have. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will create hundreds of thousands of new opportunities for Americans. It will give low-income young people training to fill these green collar jobs that we are now excited about and hope for a prosperous and successful future. The conservation corps will fund energy conservation installations in public spaces, energy efficient green housing for elderly and low-income people, and restoration of historic structures on public lands. It would also provide funding for and repair, renovation, and rehabbing of existing infrastructure facilities, and transportation enhancements and recreational trail improvements. It is going to help a lot of places that we need energy conservation.”