Hawaii-based Pacific Biodiesel, a company established on Maui in 1996, is cited as one of seven inspiring companies across the nation that together have created more than 2,500 quality”green” jobs.
On November 10th from 6PM to 8 PM, SJF Institute will recognize the 2011 Green Jobs Award honorees at a reception at the Citi Executive Conference Center keynoted by Jonathan Greenblatt, the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. The Green Jobs Award honors private businesses that contribute to both the economy and the environment. Applicants are judged on their contribution to environmental quality, the quality of their jobs and benefits, the diversity of employment opportunities, and their level of community engagement.
As noted in the recent Brookings Institute report, Sizing the Clean Economy, the emerging clean economy is challenged, in part, by a lack of standard definitions and examples. The Green Jobs Award program and recipients of the award are crucial in helping to provide needed examples and best practices within the green jobs sector.
In addition to Pacific Biodiesel, the 2011 Green Jobs Award honorees are: Better World Books, Power Partners Inc., Sacred Power Corporation, SolarCity, Sungevity, and The Taylor Companies. These companies represent diverse industries – from traditional industry innovators, to renewable energy and energy efficiency, to consumer products. Together the companies employ more than 2,540 people and their aggregate revenue exceeds $150 million.
“These seven exemplary companies show you can have true sustainability while creating real, quality jobs at all levels,” said Bonny Moellenbrock, SJF Institute Executive Director. “By acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we hope to both support their efforts and inspire other businesses to follow their lead.”
The Green Jobs Award is made possible by the support of the Citi Foundation, which is sponsoring the program for the second straight year.
“The Citi Foundation is proud to support the 2011 Green Jobs Awards,” said Pam Flaherty, CEO and President of the Citi Foundation. “These seven honorees demonstrate that a triple bottom line business strategy can be successful for any size organization. As the U.S. strives to create more high quality employment opportunities, these businesses are contributing to this effort in a way that also adds value to the environment and our communities.”
Awardee Summaries:
Pacific Biodiesel (Kahului, Hawaii) – With an additional location in Honolulu, Pacific Biodiesel operated the first retail biodiesel pump in America, and now produces and sells approximately 1 million gallons of ASTM standard biodiesel annually in Hawaii. Founders Kelly and Bob King partnered with Willie and Annie Nelson and Darryl Hannah in 2007 to create the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance.
Better World Books (Alpharetta, Georgia) – With three additional locations in Indiana and another in Edinburgh, Scotland, Better World Books is an online book resale company with 349 employees that also supports literacy efforts worldwide.
Power Partners (Athens, Georgia) - Power Partners manufactures pole-type distribution transformers, solar water heaters, and adsorption chillers while creating 360 great jobs with benefits and lean manufacturing training.
Sacred Power (Albuquerque, New Mexico) – A Native American-owned firm, Sacred Power manufactures and deploys patented remote power systems, energy efficient telecommunication shelters, and grid-tied photovoltaic carports to remote Native American homes that otherwise might be without power and refrigeration.
SolarCity (San Mateo, CA) – A full service solar provider with 25 business locations around the U.S., SolarCity is growing rapidly with over 1,350 employees and more than 15,000 projects completed or underway in 10 states.
Sungevity (Oakland, CA) – With an additional Berkeley location, Sungevity is a residential solar installer that has pioneered an online 24-hour iQuote process allowing it to use satellite images and aerial photography to assess customers’ roofs remotely. The firm offers great pay and excellent benefits for its 240 fully-engaged employees.
The Taylor Companies (Bedford, Ohio) – With a second location in Lynwood, California, Taylor is a seventh generation furniture manufacturer and a green pioneer in a traditional industry. Taylor is the first furniture manufacturer member of The Climate Registry; the firm publishes its greenhouse gas emissions and other key sustainability information on a Sustainability Facts Label that is included with all its products.
About SJF Institute
SJF Institute connects, inspires and accelerates impact entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. The Institute empowers companies that provide sustainable solutions and build workplaces where employees can grow and thrive, and works with investors, foundations, and corporations who believe in the power of entrepreneurship to change the world for the better. To learn more, visit www.sjfinstitute.org.
About the Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low- to moderate-income individuals and families in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com.
