Green jobs could grow in Pa.

• Scott LaMar/WITF
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Jared Murphy / WESA

Workers install solar panels on the roof of Global Links, a medical relief nonprofit, in Green Tree, Pa., on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.

Airdate: Wednesday, March 2, 2022

A new report says Pennsylvania has the potential to increase the number of environmentally friendly or sustainability “green” jobs in the state substantially in the near future.

Research from the employment analysis organization Emsi Burning Glass and the non-profit news organization Working Nation found there are 30,000 people working in green jobs in Pennsylvania – about 10% of those in the energy sector.

The report also says there are more than 4,500 openings for employees who can demonstrate some type of green skill. However, some workers may have to be re-trained in order to fill a green job.

We’ll learn more on Wednesday’s Smart Talk from Paula DiPerna, an author and strategic environmental policy advisor on the project and a former vice president for international affairs for The Cousteau Society.

The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections. 

Read the stories here