The jobs are going green, speakers at the Renewable Strategies Conference told participants Jan. 24 in Bertolini Student Center.

Through a series of workshops and speakers, to pics discussed included local energy concerns and the need for educatin g students about the growing green jobs market.

“We focus a lot on education and training and where the economical development is going to come in,” said Stas Margaronis, the conference’s organizer.

Speakers used facts and figures to stress the importance of creating and maintaining a sustainable method of agriculture, energy consumption and job creation. The economic and social impact of these practices was also addressed.

“We need to produce in the next 40 years the amount of food that we’ve produced in the last 8,000 years,” said SRJC’s Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ganesan Srinivasan.

In terms of education, informing and training young students about the increasing importance of green jobs was carefully presented. “We want to educate these kids from the high school to get them involved in renewable strategies,” said SRJC’s Vice President of Sustainability Hunter Share.

“The dream of having a completely self-sufficient county can’t be accomplished if we don’t have the people to sell those things or be a part of it,” Share said.

Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire also stressed how the younger generation is taking the lead when it comes to green jobs.

“Young people are the ones that are leading the way when it comes to this transition in our economy and demand in green jobs,” McGuire said.

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program produced more than 1000 private-sector jobs and is responsible for 7.7 megawatts of clean energy since 2010, McQuire said.

He explained that within the five significant economic development areas, which include agriculture, hospitality, senior health care and light manufacturing, technology will be especially important in light manufacturing.

U.S. Congressional Representative Jared Huffman also spoke in favor of sustainability. A lot of information was covered in each area that is undergoing change and the overall impact of the future.

“I mean, this is a wonderful opportunity for our students and faculty to engage with the green community and the sustainable community. It’s such an ever-changing community in terms of the technology and the inventions,” said SRJC President Frank Chong.

Outside the conference, the North Bay Chapter of the Electric Auto Association displayed a fleet of electric cars, including a Tesla Roadster and a Tesla Model S.