Times have changed. "Green-collar jobs" are springing up across the nation, and the federal government has made green jobs a top priority. That's why, to keep Western New York competitive as we rebuild our shaken economy, it is crucial we lay the groundwork for a stronger state by lessening our dependence on fluctuating oil prices and training the next generation for careers in the renewable energy sector.

Clean energy offers limitless career opportunities. Students, trained through local community colleges, vocational schools or apprenticeship programs, can find work as mechanics, installers, fuel-cell engineers, energy efficiency experts, technicians, chemists or a multitude of other specialties. Monetary benefits are also substantial: working in renewables pays 10 to 20 percent more on average.

Not all jobs require specialization either. Constructing renewable energy facilities will create thousands of jobs, and green companies offer the same mainstream jobs that other companies employ.

We already have wind turbines in Lackawanna and, hopefully, that's just the beginning. The University at Buffalo and our other institutions of higher education are an enormous resource for our community, and by offering clean energy training, our region can become a hub for New York State's transition to a green economy.

Western New York suffers from a vicious cycle as every year an increasing number of our brightest college graduates leave for greener pastures because our region's economy doesn't supply enough jobs. Our loss is another state's gain. Building a green-friendly economy and restaging upstate as an academic and clean energy leader, we can create valuable jobs and halt the "brain drain" by providing our future leaders with an incentive to stay here following graduation. Doing so would be a giant step toward rebuilding Western New York into a dynamic, robust 21st Century economy.