Green Companies Conference

 The Green Today, Jobs Tomorrow conference in Lansing Monday brought together local businesses, educators and members of the Obama Adminstration. 

With even more workers recently laid off and Michigan's unemployment rate over 12 percent, many are looking to the growing field of green and renewable energy, and Michigan is ready to play a leading role.

In the green trailer at the "Green Today Jobs Tomorrow" conference there are plenty of opportunities for reducing your own carbon footprint and Jean Morgan of TH Eifert Mechanical who brought this presentation to lansing Monday says the new technology on display means new jobs in the works.

 "I think were on the cutting edge and at the beginning of a new evolution of green and sustainable jobs," said Morgan.

US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says it won't happen overnight.

"We're kinda in a situation where were looking to create new jobs, its gonna take awhile, this isn't just gonna happen in maybe 2 or 3 months" Solis said.

Solis says she and the Obama Administration understand the importance of green jobs here in Michigan as many in manufacturing are now looking for new careers in the emerging field, but Morgan says green technology benefits all of us.

"I think its going to be a way for us to sustain and preserve our natural resources but it also helps us all to use our dollars wiser," said Solis.

While the conference wasn't exactly a job fair, there were plenty of companies on hand who are invested in the green technology and say they're excited about the possibilities that await job seekers.