Rodney Ashley and Miguel Luna were trained to be solar trainers at Ohlone College in Newark, Calif.

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Workers are needed to power the growing green economy in California – a Golden State opportunity for people seeking encore careers, says David Bank, vice president of Civic Ventures, in today’s San Francisco Chronicle.

“And once demand gets rolling,” he writes, “green growth could power the state's economic recovery. At that point, it won't be technology or political will or even money that is holding back the green boom. As paradoxical as it sounds with unemployment in double digits, the green economy is facing a talent shortage.”

Bank cites a study released this week
by MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures that identifies boomers looking for encore careers as a good fit for green jobs on the horizon, such as weatherization crew leaders, solar contractors and trainers, and energy auditors.

Fueling the need for more talent are incentives that will kick in this summer, such as new financing arrangements that let consumers pay for green retrofits over an extended period and energy efficiency rebates that the Obama administration is promoting.

The need isn’t limited to California. Bank notes that a task force chaired by Vice President Joe Biden found last year that "there are currently not enough skilled workers and green entrepreneurs" for a national-scale energy efficiency effort.

Already on board are Scott Wynn, 53, who transitioned his experience in the Air Force and building industry to an encore career as the green jobs specialist at the nonprofit Center for Employment Training in San Jose; and Mitchell Smith, 50, who was laid off last year from his job in educational technology sales and now hires inner-city youths to do solar installations.

Smith told Bank, "I'm giving back and I feel just great.”

• Join the Green Encores online group on Encore.org to discuss ideas about green opportunities.
• Read more about the coming labor shortage and emerging jobs.
• Learn nine tips for preparing for jobs of the future.