Democratic candidate vows state’s alternative energy firms would thrive under his watch
Gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick promised Friday that if elected, he would work to create policy allowing the state’s 100 renewable energy companies to thrive. "There’s an opportunity for public leadership to create the market here," he said while touring Evergreen Solar Inc. "Why don’t we start using more green technology?" Patrick visited the Cedar Hill Street solar panel manufacturer - the state’s largest - with U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-3rd, after mentioning the company in many of his campaign speeches. Evergreen recently opened a manufacturing plant in Germany, and has just started building a second in the country. Patrick has questioned why the government did nothing to try to keep the expansion local, when the state should be embracing these companies as alternatives to non-renewable resources oil and coal.

Electricians See Alternative Energy Jobs
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, holding its convention in Cleveland, sees alternative energy as the union's best chance for job growth after focusing its membership for years on the manufacturing and construction industries. The Washington-based union had almost 1 million members at its peak in the 1970s but has lost 300,000 since then despite increasing jobs in booming residential markets of some states, such as Florida. The union also has recruited satellite dish installers. The union sees construction and upkeep of wind turbines, solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells as drivers for new jobs.