The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce has announced this year's Green Award winner. And, the winner is CPCC's Center for Sustainability. Ernie McLaney, executive director of the center, will formally accept the award Oct. 21 at the chamber's forth annual Green Conference at Pine Island Country Club.

"This particular award means we are doing a lot of things right," says McLankey, "We're really excited about it."

As well they should be. In a time when the city and the Chamber is working to re-brand itself as a green energy hub, at least in the Southeast if not nationally, training the workforce for the jobs that will power those industries is essential.

"We're the college people go to when they've lost their jobs," McLankey says, "when they need to retrain for a new job." He sees the center's focus on green jobs as an important to helping the city maintain its focus where renewable energy, sustainability and the environment are concerned.

In the press release, the Chamber's chief operating officer, Blair Stanford, explains why the center was chosen: "Now more than ever it's important for us as a chamber to promote responsibility and sustainable growth for our environment and our economy. We felt the Center for Sustainability at CPCC does that."

The center was selected from six finalists by members of the chamber's Green Works Committee. The center nominated itself.

More than 100 attendees are expected at this year's green conference, which begins with networking and a chance to mingle at sponsors' tables. Lunch is included. The Catawba River District and ReVenture will be the focus of the agenda.

Here's a 2008 video from CPCC explaining what its Center for Sustainability is all about: