Representative Mason Announces Wisconsin Sustainable Jobs Act

Bill will Leverage Billions to Create Jobs, Reduce Energy Costs

Rep. Cory Mason

Madison, WI – Today, Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) unveiled the details of a legislative proposal called the “Wisconsin Sustainable Jobs Act.” The legislation was described at a press event at Racine’s First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Training Center this morning. Representative Mason was joined by Racine Mayor John Dickert, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, U.S. Department of Energy officials, and leaders representing government, labor and environmental groups.

“The Wisconsin Sustainable Jobs Act will help create a demand for skilled workers, and develop career pathways for hundreds and potentially thousands of Wisconsin residents to move into family-supporting weatherization jobs,” said Mason.

The Wisconsin Sustainable Jobs Act will:

• Create high-quality jobs throughout the state in the burgeoning weatherization industry;

• Allow Wisconsin to make critically important investments in energy conservation;

• Create career pathways for Wisconsin’s residents to get the training they need to move into these family-supporting jobs;

• Leverage federal stimulus dollars for residential energy efficiency in a revolving loan model;

• Leverage private capital to enable wide-scale retrofit projects at some of Wisconsin’s largest commercial and industrial locations; and

• Reduce Wisconsin’s carbon footprint.

“Green jobs are the way of the future for our businesses and our children,” said Racine Mayor John Dickert. “Through Representative Mason’s legislation, we will be able to expand successful efforts like the First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship program, and connect Racine’s residents to high-quality
weatherization jobs.”

“Most importantly, the Wisconsin Sustainable Jobs Act is, as its name suggests, sustainable,” Representative Coy Mason continued, “Its revolving loan model and the leveraging of both public and private resources will ensure the long-term growth of this new industry, creating a greener

Wisconsin and putting Wisconsin residents to work for years to come in high-quality weatherization jobs.”

Posted @ 8:35 p.m.