What the “green collar” economy means for you

comments from our community

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  Posted by Alan Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:55pm PST

  When I was in school 35 years ago we learned about solar energy, windmill power, and fuel made from corn. I guess it's better late than never. When will we have the flying cars like they had on the "Jetson's"?

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  Posted by burnsbaseball14 Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:00pm PST

  Seriously - What were we all (as a society) expecting when the flower children of the 60's obtained the reins to running the businesses and the goverment of the USA? There is a cause and effect to everything in this world. Is anything that has happened to the economy or bringing Barrack into office really a suprise? Just like the 60's we are are living in a drug induced dream and holds onto your asses the ride is far from over. I like Barrack and I want him to help us out of the nightmare.

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  Posted by El Jefe Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:01pm PST

  Here are some facts you can't argue with Tetra Tech Reports Strong First Quarter Results Revenue Up 35.8% Net Revenue Up 19.1% Diluted EPS Up 24.1% Backlog Up 36.4% to New Record High PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) today announced results for the first quarter ended December 28, 2008. Revenue in the quarter was $638.7 million, up 35.8% from $470.4 million, and revenue, net of subcontractor costs, was $330.0 million, up 19.1% from $277.2 million for the same quarter last year. Income from operations for the quarter was $28.6 million, up 26.0% from $22.7 million for the same quarter last year. Net income for the quarter was $16.3 million, up 26.4% from $12.9 million for the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were $0.27, up 24.1% from $0.22 for the same quarter last year. Backlog at the end of the quarter was a record $1.77 billion, up 36.4% from $1.30 billion at the end of the same quarter last year. Cash used in operations was $27.7 million, up 52.8% from $18.1 million for the same quarter last year. Compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2008, Tetra Tech’s federal government business grew 7.6%, driven by strength in U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) projects; commercial business grew 127.0%, driven by strength in wind energy and water projects; and state and local business declined 13.9% due to weak economic conditions. Reflecting on the first quarter results, Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech’s Chairman and CEO, remarked, “While the economy continued to experience significant deterioration, our focus on water projects and federal customers resulted in a strong first quarter. We ended the first quarter with a record backlog of $1.77 billion, a sequential increase of $120 million, which provides a positive outlook for the remainder of our fiscal year.” Mr. Batrack continued, “We completed our first major international acquisition, Wardrop Engineering, Inc., a Canadian consulting and engineering firm with 1,200 employees. Wardrop is expected to contribute approximately $75 million of net revenue and two cents of EPS for the remainder of fiscal 2009, both of which are factored into our updated guidance.”

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  Posted by booger Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:04pm PST

  Solar is ok for a backup in the SW and wind is ok for places that have enough sustained wind. I read this entire artical and one thing I noticed is that these so-called start up "green" companies will be dependent on government subsidies. I don't want my tax dollars to go into the private sector. Let them sink or swim on their own. When and if there is a demand for solar or wind power, entrepreneurs will supply the technology and the products

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  Posted by jack-in-the-box Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:07pm PST

  Hey green hornet: we paid 100 trillion dollars for TANG? what a deal. Government spending at its best. Thanks dems and repubs both for the purchase, TANG makes my morning.

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  Posted by Monty Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:08pm PST

  Well if the gov't doesn't build the infrastructure who will? There is no reliable petroleum infrastructure in this country. Every time the wind blows in the Gulf of Mexico, we here in the southeast don't have gasoline for the following two months. Electric grid? It's a disaster - look at the current siutation - all it did was get cold.. There's some serious work with the public utilities that needs to be done. Got better ideas? Put 'em forward. Nuclear expansion would be wonderful and must be part of the solution as well. Conservatives had the last 8 years to address the issues - they did nothing. It's a shame, but it's true. Now they need to shut up and let someone else drive..

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  Posted by Steve Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:15pm PST

  "University of Amherst Massachusetts says that a $100 billion investment in green programs would create about two million jobs over two years." The only problem is, Obama's stimulus plan doesn't include 100 Billion for green jobs... Look it up...

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  Posted by Michael Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:17pm PST

  Awesome!!!Let's increase the deficit even more. Who decides which states get the "green jobs" that everyone is paying for? It is a good thought to create "green jobs" but history has shown that the government is wasteful and the private sector always does things more efficiently. I wonder if this plan will work out as well as Barney Frank and the rest of the stooges telling Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae that everyone deserves to own a house regardless of credit history or employment.

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  Posted by jack-in-the-box Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:24pm PST

  El Jefe points out that if the government gives a company like Tetra Tech money they will use it to purchase a Canadian company giving employment to 1200 Canadians. That will help save the economy in no time. At least they are investing in the right continent. I'm for greening up Canada big time too.

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  Posted by cathi_7578 Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:31pm PST

  All you naysayers sound like all those people centuries ago who believed the world was FLAT.

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  Posted by C Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:34pm PST

  Hey gillgrissom_csi, I know someone who goes out and climbs for Vesta's and they make well over $50K a year, they are not management either. Not only that, if you like to travel, Vesta's helps. Airfare for whole family, moving expenses, first two months rent covered just so a move to New Zealand could happen. Oh, and insurance for the whole family is paid. I would say, not to bad. But, maybe it just depends on where you are living.

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  Posted by william m Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:34pm PST

  I have a problem with all of the negativity!!! Where were you clowns when we were pouring billions into Iraq, not to mention killing and ruining tens of thousand of lives. Bush and the Republicans had no real ideas and ran this country into the ground with deregulation, tax cuts, and cronyism! We need new ideas, and we need to try new things!! I'd love to have photovoltaics or a small wind turbine on my house! We need to develop a low voltage system for all houses for lighting and computers, etc. We need to conserve, insulate, install water temper tanks, and we need to desperately develop a positive brain trust to move our nation and the world forward!!!

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  Posted by Violinhunter Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:37pm PST

  All that is needed is to start a chain reaction - several chain reactions - which will create jobs. Is that impossible? Perhaps Bill Gates can invent something new?

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  Posted by jack-in-the-box Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:52pm PST

  Cathi_75: The world isn't flat, it used to be flat. Columbus blew it up and made it into a ball. Thats wind power for you

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  Posted by El Jefe Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:57pm PST

  Ironic that Steve W would use a list of economists deemed experts to show that Obama's Plan is not going to work. Yet a similar group of scientists equally notable in their academic background stated global warming was happening, many on the right stuck their head in the sand and said no it isn't. Eventually Bush acknowledged that global warming was real.

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