Clean energy jobs supporters turned out in force today to welcome the Senate back from summer recess and show their overwhelming support for a bold clean energy and climate bill.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8th, 2009
Concerned Americans Show Senators What Clean Energy Jobs Look Like
Youth Form “Clean Energy Assembly Line” In Creative Show of Support for Bold Clean Energy Jobs Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2009-Clean energy jobs supporters turned out in force today to welcome the Senate back from summer recess and show their overwhelming support for a bold clean energy and climate bill.
A group consisting mainly of young people formed a “Clean Energy Assembly Line” in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building and constructed miniature windmills to represent the millions of green jobs that would be created by passing a strong bill.
“In the midst of a recession, this Labor Day is an important reminder of how important good, well-paying jobs are to the American economy,” said Lauren Glickman with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “A bold clean energy bill will strengthen our economy by creating millions of green jobs and making America the world leader in clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.”
A Washington Post-ABC News poll found that a majority of Americans approve of the way President Obama is handling energy issues and support efforts in Congress to overhaul energy policy. Nearly six in 10 of those polled support the proposed changes to U.S. energy policy being developed by Congress and the administration. Fifty-five percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the issue and 52 percent back a cap-and-trade system.
“As the Senate reconvenes today, too many Americans are out of work and getting sick from our current dirty energy systems. We must act now,” said Pete Griffin, Campaign Director for Energy Action Coalition. “This historic youth movement fighting for jobs and clean energy is getting larger every day and the action, or inaction, of the Senators walking through those doors today will influence how young people mobilize next year as 36 of them make bids for reelection.”
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Energy Action Coalition have collected thousands of pictures and messages from concerned people from across the nation. Still decked out in green hard hats, a group of young people spent the rest of the afternoon delivering the pictures and messages to Senate offices along with the miniature windmills they built.
“We’re part of a movement of people all across America who support bold action to jumpstart a clean energy future and curb global warming,” said Nathan Kauffman, a student at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. “As a young person, this issue is especially important to me because it’s my future at stake.”
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), plans to unveil its climate bill this month. The bill is thought to be modeled after the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed the House by a 219-212 vote in June.
“We can’t wait any longer,” said Kim Huynh with the Avaaz Climate Action Factory. “The world’s leading climate scientists have said we have only a few years to act, and meaningful action is going to require global participation. World leaders are meeting in Denmark in December to craft an international climate-change agreement, and the outcome hinges on whether the U.S. Senate will pass climate legislation this fall.”
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