Now that President Obama has proposed spending Boggling Barrels of Billions on conservation and Green Job initiatives, individual states are frantically building their legislative and development platforms to capture the cash.

States such as Massachusetts and California have a head start with prescient legislation that’s tailor made to plug right into the oncoming torrent of subsidies, incentives and raw handouts that’s about to be unleashed.  Latecomers and no-hopers like New Mexico and Michigan are scrambling to catch up; their bureaucrats will need to be quick learners of renewable-energy-speak, with terms like biofuel, thermosiphon and parabolic trough.

A stampede of competitive activities to get and keep the promised Green windfall will make for some sharp-elbowed maneuvering over the next few years. Everything from huge green construction projects and weatherization programs, to sustainable agriculture development will be in play. Not only will skilled workers be needed, but trainers, managers, IT professionals and biofuel labs will be courted by states as they ramp up their capacity to dip into the new well of money.

Politicians will crow and deep-pocketed utilities will sniff around for the lion’s share, but trade unions, AARP and advocates for the under-employed, among others, will raise their earnest voices and try to be heard over the cackling of cable-show pundits. Let the new Administration be guided by the wisdom of those who have labored at the grassroots level of the energy and conservation movements:

• The Sierra Club
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture