Humor your wife. Avoid the risk of getting suckered by unscrupulous patent mills known to rip off inventors who are babes in the woods. Here's an action plan:
Check out a couple of late-vintage library books on how to develop an invention; if nothing else, you'll get the jargon straight. Next, consult with an experienced patent lawyer before you try to patent or license an invention. Most of these lawyers offer a free initial consultation. If you green-light the development of your invention, you'll need a competent patent lawyer to guide you through the land mines of complex transactions.
DEAR JOYCE: How could I find out some information about getting government training in green jobs? -- H.W.
A starting place: The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, www.doleta.gov. The front page of the site contains some basic information and links to other resources that may answer your question.
As you've probably discovered, green jobs are still a developing concept. Stay tuned on this issue.