Local Heroes...

Are you young, living in California and ready to take the plunge to work in a green-tech career? Then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a program for you.

This summer, the Governor will launch the California Green Corps, a 20-month pilot program to teach youths between 16 and 24 to work in the state's growing green-tech industries.

Participants will receive training to become "construction workers, cost estimators, energy analysts, computer technicians, salespersons, scientists, engineers" and many other careers.

The program will be funded with $10 million of the state's federal stimulus money. Another $10 million will come from private sector donations.

Why the focus on training? One estimate says that California will create an astounding 83,000 new green jobs in the next two years, and the state needs training workers to fill those jobs.

The Green Corps will start placing youths in job-training programs this summer. There's no word yet on how to sign up for it, but you can read all about it here and register to receive more information when it becomes available.