Buffalo Lacks Green Jobs PDF Print E-mail
Wind TurbinesBuffalo still lags behind most cities in pulling out of its blue collar industrial past. And now local wind energy advocates say the region is falling behind in the race for so-called green collar jobs. A new report from SUNY Buffalo says that the state has the legal muscle to ensure many of those prime jobs remain here. With Buffalo ranking as the second poorest city in the nation, those jobs are sorely needed. Bill Nowak heads the Wind Action Group. He sees wind energy as the first rung in a so-called green ladder to help the region climb out of poverty.
(Audio/Article, Source: WBFO)

 

Why It Matters

  • Urban areas should have 30% tree cover. Buffalo had 16% until October, 2006 and now has only 8%. Less than 1% of city land is open green space, while nearly 10% is vacant and unused.
  • 56% of our region’s bodies of water are rated as “impaired.”
  • 26,000 vacant housing units exist in the city of Buffalo; 42,000 region-wide.