On the Van wagon?

Rumor has it Obama will tap Van Jones as his green jobs czar 3

Word around the blogs is that Van Jones has been tapped to serve as a “green jobs czar” in the Obama administration. We’re still trying to confirm, and we’ll have more soon on this potential new role for someone who’s been a household name here at Grist.

[UPDATE: A well-placed source confirms that Jones has been offered a position in the administration, but said that “green jobs czar” is an overstatement. We’ll have more on exactly what the job entails soon.]

[UPDATE 2: It’s official: Jones has been tapped to be special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation in the Obama administration.]

We asked Jones at the Democratic National Convention last August whether he’d want to be a “green jobs czar” or something similar in the Obama administration. At that point, he told us, “I can’t imagine what position he would offer me except the janitorial recycling staff, which I’d be happy to be a part of.”

We also saw Jones, whose renown as a green-jobs visionary has been rising steadily in the past months, in Philadelphia on Feb. 27, where he presented to Joe Biden’s Middle Class Task Force about the need to “green the ghetto first”: “Give those kids on the corner the opportunity to put down the handguns and pickup a caulking gun instead,” he said.

And a few weeks ago he testified to the House Committee on Education and Labor on the need for a green jobs corps and national green service programs. Here’s the video:

Kate Sheppard is Grist’s political reporter.

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  1. randino Posted 2:21 am
    09 Mar 2009

    Pros and ConsIf it is more than a rumor, then Van faces some decisions that would keep me awake at night. Would he be more effective where he is, or on the insde of the administration??? How much power would he really have?? Could he go along with the administration the next time it starts talking about "clean coal?"
    If he gets tapped, then we might not know what to do. Offer him our congratulations, or our condolences.  
    Randy Cunningham

    Cleveland, OH

    Randy Cunningham

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  2. greenskeptic Posted 3:07 am
    09 Mar 2009

    On the Van Wagon?I wondered about the same thing...will Van be more effective as an insider than as an outsider?  He has focused so much attention on this issue and got some of the most influential people to pay attention. Will bureaucracy of a government role stifle his creative energies?
    At the same time, Van knows what he is doing and I have to believe he will do what he feels needs to be done to move his agenda forward.
    Still can't confirm the rumor and his office has not responded to my query.

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  3. Janlcg Posted 4:32 am
    09 Mar 2009

    A Van Fan !Ah, my fellow cynical greenies! Time to inject some faith! We've been down so long, we don't know which way is up. If Obama appoints an "insider" we will be harping about that!

    So let's rejoice in Obama's choice!  Van will stay true to his convictions in Washington, and we will be back here in our communities to support his work and carry on because his creative energies are ours now! Let's roll up our sleeves; it's going to be a long, arduous , bumpy, but great ride.

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