Pittsburgh, PA – The Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign, the United Steelworkers and the Blue Green Alliance will conclude their Clean Energy Jobs Tour with a rally in Pittsburgh on September 23rd. The Jobs Tour, a month-long campaign with more than 50 events in 22 states, is highlighting how a transition to a clean energy economy will create jobs while reducing harmful carbon pollution and breaking our dependence on foreign oil.
The Pittsburgh event will feature musical entertainment, including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir and Grammy-award winning artist Kathy Mattea. Scheduled speakers include Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and other elected officials, now including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, as well as leaders from the labor, business, faith, sportsmen and environmental communities. The event is free and open to the public. Information can be found at www.repoweramerica.org/rallyforcleanenergyjobs.
“American workers and their families need jobs, and a clean energy economy is a sure-fire way to put our country back to work and on a path toward long-term economic prosperity,” said Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection.
According to the Center for American Progress, transitioning to a clean energy economy will create more than 70,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. A recent report by the Blue Green Alliance showed that Pennsylvania stands to gain more than 42,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass by instituting a renewable electricity standard.
“We can create millions of jobs building the clean energy economy – whether it’s manufacturing the parts for windmills, building hybrid car batteries or weatherizing homes to make them more efficient,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance. “By transitioning to a clean energy economy, we can revitalize America’s manufacturing sector and boost our economy for the long run — by creating jobs here at home.”
“Building a clean energy economy can revitalize American manufacturing, but only if we commit to using domestically produced components,” said United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard. “In confronting the challenges of recession, global warming and energy independence, we have an opportunity to transform our economy and create good jobs that truly are Made in America.”
WHAT: Clean Energy Jobs Now! Rally
WHERE : Point State Park Pittsburgh, PA
WHEN : Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 p.m.
WHO :
- Governor Edward G. Rendell
- Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Executive
- Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
- State Senator Jim Ferlo
- Big Head Todd & the Monsters
- Anna Burger, Chair, Change to Win
- Da Flow Band
- David Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
- Maggie Fox, President and CEO, The Alliance for Climate Protection
- Lee Geisse, USW Member and clean energy worker from Canton, Ohio
- Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers
- Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
- Alec Loorz, Founder, Kids vs Global Warming and Youth Leader, Alliance for Climate Education
- Kathy Mattea, Grammy Award Winning Artist
- The Pittsburgh Gospel Choir, Directed by Dr. Herbert Jones
- Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club
- Gloria Reuben, Actor/Activist
- Larry Schweiger, President, National Wildlife Federation
- Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
- Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus
For more information about the Clean Energy Jobs Tour, visit Repower America www.repoweramerica.org/tour or the Blue Green Alliance at www.bluegreenalliance.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Julia Payne, Alice McKeon, Repower America, (202) 628-1999, press@climateprotect.org
Kelly Schwinghammer, Blue Green Alliance, (612) 466-4488, kellys@bluegreenalliance.org
Benjamin Freed, Repower Pennsylvania, (917) 903-3031, benjamin.freed@climateprotect.org
Wayne Ranick, United Steelworkers, (412) 562-2444, wranick@usw.org
