But can we "lift Americans out of poverty" by diverting more capital to unreliable energy sources, bureaucrats, carbon traders, etc?

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | ‘New Green Deal’ Focus of Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference

Just weeks after the Obama administration and the new Congress take office—with the economy as the top priority—more than 2,000 union, environmental, business and government activists and leaders will take part in the 2009 Good Jobs Green Jobs National Conference.

The Feb. 4–6 conference in Washington, D.C., is coordinated by the Blue Green Alliance, the partnership of the United Steelworkers (USW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

It will focus on transforming the struggling economy through a wide range of environmental investments in green technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Conference organizers say the goal is to develop a “New Green Deal” that would create jobs, increase energy independence, reduce global warming and expand the clean energy and green technology markets.

In addition, the conference will highlight the potential of a green economy to build a new social agenda that lifts Americans out of poverty, improves public health and strengthens the middle class.

Participants can choose from more than 40 workshops on a wide range of topics, including green building, bio-fuels, climate change and green chemistry and have access to a Green Jobs Expo that will highlight the rapid development of green jobs and careers