WASHINGTON, DC (Mayo 14, 2013) – Hoy, el BlueGreen Alliance publicó su Declaración sobre la Reforma Migratoria, la cual apoya una ley bipartita de sentido común y crea un camino justo hacia la ciudadanía. La declaración de la coalición más importante de sindicatos y defensores del ambiente hoy día en Estados Unidos – la cual representa a 14 de los sindicatos nacionales y organizaciones ambientales más grandes y con mayor influencia en los Estados Unidos y une a más de 15 millones de miembros y seguidores – solicitó al Congreso y a la administración de Obama a que proporcionaran un mejor camino a la ciudadanía para los inmigrantes que el que existe hoy día.  

“La búsqueda del sueño Americano no debe privarles a trabajadores los derechos básicos y forzarles a sufrir los peores efectos de la degradación ambiental,” dijo David Foster, Director Ejecutivo del BlueGreen Alliance. “Con demasiada frecuencia, aquellos forzados a vivir en las sombras de la sociedad sufren  injusticias económicas y ambientales. Por estas razones, BlueGreen Alliance anuncia  su fuerte apoyo a un camino justo a la ciudadanía para millones de inmigrantes.”

La posición única del BlueGreen Alliance en unir las preocupaciones de sindicatos para mejores trabajos y de todos por un medioambiente limpionos da una responsabilidad especial para hablar en nombre de poblaciones vulnerables, especialmente aquellos que sufren la carga más pesada del cambios climatológicos. Los huracanes Katrina y Sandy, por ejemplo, demostraron que aquellos miembros de la sociedad sin voz ni voto son en general los últimos a quienes les reconectan la luz eléctrica.

La declaración también destacó la manera en la que las fábricas de Estados Unidos, las ciudades y la tecnología científica se han beneficiado de las contribuciones de nuestras comunidades de inmigrantes.

“El sello distintivo de una sociedad exitosa del siglo XXI será nuestra capacidad para resolver nuestros retos económicos y ambientales de manera conjunta,” agregó Foster. “Por lo tanto, un camino justo a la ciudadanía es parte importante de confrontar uno de los problemas principales de nuestro tiempo, la crisis del clima.”

En ingles/in English

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BlueGreen Alliance es una coalicón nacional de sindicatos laborales y organizaciones ambientales dedicados a aumentar el número y la calidad de trabajos en una economía  verde.  Lanzada en 2006, la sociedad estratégica une ahora a los sindicatos laborales más importantes de los Estados Unidos y a las organizaciones ambientales con mayor influencia en este país y junta a más de 15 millones de miembros y partidarios en la búsqueda de buenos empleos, un medio ambiente una economía verdes.  Visite www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 16, 2013) – Today, the Senate voted to approve Dr. Ernest Moniz’s nomination to lead the Department of Energy. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“The Senate vote today now clears the way for Dr. Ernest Moniz to lead the Department of Energy. We hope that in this new role, the Department of Energy will be guided by policies that adhere to a long-term strategy to protect the environment, protect public health and expand vital clean energy investments — leading to good jobs for American workers and reducing the carbon pollution causing climate change.

“America is poised to capture and grow innovative technology that improves competitiveness, puts more renewable energy to work in homes and businesses across the country than ever and that creates thousands of jobs. We look forward to working together with Dr. Moniz to promote a joint vision that expands clean energy investments in a way that bolsters America’s economy.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Erin Bzymek, erinb@bluegreenalliance.org, 202-706-6916

WASHINGTON, DC (May 16, 2013) – Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to advance Gina McCarthy’s nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Her nomination will now go to the Senate floor for consideration. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee finally did the right thing today. Gina McCarthy is the right person to lead the Environmental Protection Agency as we work to combat the effects of climate change, strengthen and renew efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and better protect public health.

“Addressing the effects of climate change today in a way that both protects the environment and creates jobs is a critically important opportunity that we can’t afford to miss. The next leader of EPA will have pivotal role in how America plans for and implements a strategy that makes our energy systems cleaner and more efficient, safeguards communities from extreme weather and toxic chemicals, and strengthens our transit and water infrastructure systems to reduce carbon pollution and helps us build a more robust economy. We urge the Senate to quickly approve Gina McCarthy’s nomination.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Hon. Dianne Feinstein
Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
184 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Hon. Lisa Murkowski
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Hon. Ron Wyden
Chair, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senators, Alexander, Feinstein, Murkowski, and Wyden, 

As you work to develop legislation addressing longstanding challenges of storage and disposal of our country’s current 70,000 metric tons of commercial spent nuclear fuel, a radioactive waste inventory projected to more than double by 2035, we strongly urge you to consider the potential benefits of increased public safety, domestic manufacturing and domestic job creation that can come from improving current spent fuel management policy; specifically legislating the thinning out of over-crowded cooling pools and the ramping-up of more dry cask storage.  Failure to incorporate this important issue into national nuclear waste legislation would be a missed opportunity to increase public confidence in the safety of domestic nuclear power operations as well as create new markets around US-manufactured technology, putting more Americans back to work.    

The challenges of crafting a workable framework for long-term management of the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle are formidable, especially when one considers the substantial amount of time it will take to implement and actualize a process for permanently disposing of this waste or initially consolidating and storing it at specific interim sites prior to permanent geologic disposal.  The fact is that large quantities of spent fuel will remain at reactor sites for many years to come.  While the radiation levels in recently-discharged nuclear fuel must be allowed to decrease to a level where the fuel can be stored in dry casks, the industry standard practice of using cooling pools for long-term storage—and filling pools to capacity using high-density storage racks—increases risks to safety and security in nuclear operations.

We believe that addressing this problem creates a unique opportunity to ramp up domestic manufacturing of safer, less vulnerable dry storage casks, potentially creating thousands of quality jobs.  Furthermore, accelerating the transfer of fuel from over-crowded pools to dry casks is a necessary step in the process of any plan to ship spent fuel to an interim centralized storage site or geologic repository. 

Americans deserve real safety improvements in spent fuel management, and these improvements are good for the long-term security of the industry, their workers, and the public.  Congress cannot adequately provide real solutions to our waste storage problem without improving current spent fuel management practices, and there is little to no public safety benefit from legislating a process to move spent fuel off site without a linkage to thinning out over-crowded cooling pools.         

We recognize your leadership on this very important and challenging issue, and hope that you will seize this opportunity to improve public safety and security while putting Americans to work by acknowledging the need to use more dry cask storage, and helping to facilitate increased domestic manufacturing of this important technology. On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, we ask that you include language or provisions that would accelerate the transfer of spent fuel from cooling pools to dry storage casks in the national nuclear waste legislation you are developing. 

Sincerely, 

David A. Foster
Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance

WASHINGTON, DC (May 15, 2013) – Today, the BlueGreen Alliance released its Statement on Immigration Reform, which encouraged a commonsense, bipartisan approach that creates an equitable path to citizenship. The statement from the premier labor and environmental coalition in America today — which represents 14 of America’s largest and most influential labor unions and environmental organizations, bringing together over 15 million members and supporters — called on Congress and the Obama administration to provide a better path to citizenship for immigrants than the one that exists today.

“Pursuit of the American dream should not deprive workers of basic rights and force them to bear the brunt of environmental degradation along the way,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Too often, those who are forced to live in the shadows of society are disenfranchised in the face of these economic and environmental injustices. For these reasons, the BlueGreen Alliance is announcing strong support of an equitable path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.” 

The BlueGreen Alliance’s unique position at the intersection of a cleaner environment and better jobs gives the organization a special responsibility to speak out on behalf of vulnerable populations, especially those who bear the heaviest load of severe climate events. Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, for example, demonstrated those voiceless members of society are commonly the last to have the lights turned back on.

The statement also highlighted how America’s factories, cities and scientific knowhow have all benefited from the contributions of our immigrant communities. 

“The hallmark of a successful 21^st century society will be our capacity to solve our environmental and economic challenges in tandem,” Foster added. “Thus, an equitable path to citizenship is part of addressing one of the major problems of our time, the climate crisis.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 3, 2013) – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the April employment numbers, showing the economy added 165,000 jobs and the unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“While the jobs numbers in April were better than expected, it’s only a matter of time before budget cuts from the sequester take their toll. Worsening economic news from Europe continues to show that austerity programs lead to recession, economic contraction, and greater deficits. The negative effects of the sequester are holding back the American economy. The best strategy for long-term economic growth is an environment of economic certainty.

“We can create and sustain growth through long-term investments in our wastewater infrastructure, transit systems, electrical grid, roads and bridges, and communications systems. At the same time, this strategy will create good jobs for workers and keep our communities safe from the impacts of climate change. We can’t delay. We must make rebuilding the systems we rely on every day a priority so that we can protect the environment and strengthen the economy.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

The implementation costs of the Tier 3 program will be greatly offset by savings in health costs alone, in addition to improving quality of life for all Americans. Also, since pollution reduction is strongly tied to fuel efficiency, in addition to direct benefits to public health, these efforts will assist in the mitigation of greenhouse gases that are causing climate change.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 29, 2013) – Reacting to President Obama’s decision to nominate Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to replace Ray LaHood as the next Secretary of Transportation, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster released the following statement:

“As mayor of Charlotte, Anthony Foxx has a strong track record of investing in 21st century infrastructure. We’re hopeful that as Transportation Secretary, he’ll lead with that same vision of a balanced, multi-modal transport system that’s affordable and accessible to all Americans. Just as important as expanding access to transportation, strong Buy America policies must be part of a comprehensive plan to rebuild and reinforce our transportation infrastructure, while creating good jobs.  

“Strategic, long-term investments in America’s transportation systems will create jobs, reduce pollution and better prepare for the effects of climate change. We urge swift confirmation of our next Transportation Secretary.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

CHICAGO, IL (April 29, 2013) – Tom Conway, Regional Program Manager at the BlueGreen Alliance, today testified before an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) panel in Chicago, Illinois in support of the agency’s proposed Tier 3 Standards — a set of rules to cut tailpipe emissions and clean up the fuel that we put in our light- and heavy-duty vehicles. EPA estimates the standards could prevent between 820 and 2,400 premature deaths annually and prevent 1.8 million lost school or work days.

“This investment in pollution reduction represents a significant down payment toward curbing our greenhouse gas emissions, improving efficiency and job creation,” said Conway. “As a resident of Northwest Indiana, with family throughout the Chicago-land area, I see the constant need to balance public health and environmental stewardship with sustainable economic growth. These standards are necessary for maintaining that balance.”

America’s working families deal firsthand with the impacts of dirty air in terms of missed work and school days, increased medical costs, and long-term health effects. Despite dramatic improvements in recent decades, ozone quality grades remain in the range of ‘C’ to ‘F’ for some areas, making it clear that there is room for improvement.

The implementation costs of the Tier 3 program will be offset by savings in health costs alone, in addition to improving quality of life for all Americans. Also, since pollution reduction is strongly tied to fuel efficiency, in addition to direct benefits to public health, these efforts will assist in the mitigation of greenhouse gases that are causing climate change.

“The BlueGreen Alliance commends the Obama administration, and specifically the EPA for outstanding leadership reducing air pollution from passenger vehicles and trucks,” said Conway. “The Tier 3 program enhances a comprehensive approach toward making our vehicles more energy efficient and less polluting.”

Previously, the EPA held a hearing on Tier 3 Standards in Philadelphia. The proposed standard would take effect starting in 2017.

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 22, 2013) – Today, the BlueGreen Alliance congratulates 64 schools and 14 school districts across the country for being honored as Green Ribbon Schools award recipients. The Green Ribbon Schools honors were awarded by the U.S. Department of Education in collaboration with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. The full list of award recipients is available here. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“Green Ribbon Schools and the well-rounded educations they are providing to students across the country are vital to our collective future. Apart from educating our students about the effects of climate change, greening our schools provides a tremendous opportunity to create jobs in our communities and reduce energy and water waste in the most important buildings in our communities.

“These schools and their students come from diverse areas of the country and economic means. Over 50 percent of the schools honored are in underserved areas and are located in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

“Empowering today’s students to be engaged in addressing climate change and becoming more energy and water efficient means they will be working in the jobs of tomorrow that reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies, find new and innovative ways to harness renewable energy and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Congratulations to all of the 78 award honorees for a job well done.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 18, 2013) –The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster on the tragic explosion in West, Texas:

“It is with a heavy heart that we offer our condolences and sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in the explosion at a facility in West, Texas. Our thoughts are with those who will have tough days ahead as they recover from this tragic event.

“While we do not yet know the cause or the full extent of the damage — and we wait to learn how this tragedy could have been averted — we do know that safety for workers and communities in our country should be the paramount concern for government, business and community leaders. The Associated Press has reported that the facility was last inspected by OSHA in 1985. If this is true, it is a stunning indictment of the underfunding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which only has the resources to inspect each of America’s workplaces once every 26 to 243 years, depending on which state you live in.

“We must redouble our efforts to enforce laws that protect workers and communities, provide the responsible agencies with adequate resources, and stop attempts to weaken or eliminate them. We must endeavor to make every job a good, green and safe job, so we can ensure that our families and communities are safeguarded from harm.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 17, 2013) – The BlueGreen Alliance honored Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-1), and the BlueGreen Alliance's Deputy Director Yvette Pena Lopes with the Blue Green Alliance Green Jobs Champion Award for their outstanding achievements and tireless advocacy creating the good, green jobs that are moving America to a clean economy, while ensuring we continue to address climate change.

“Without outspoken leaders who are confronting the costs of climate change and expanding the clean economy like Senator Brown and Congressman Rush in Congress, we would not be where we are today,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Their important work on vehicle fuel efficiency standards and protecting public health is having a tremendous impact well beyond their own constituencies.”

Implementing the highest fuel efficiency standards in a generation, rising American-made clean energy manufacturing and more advanced vehicles on the road are all a testament to Senator Brown’s leadership. Working alongside both union and environmental leaders, he has helped expand the resources available to manufacturers that want to transition into the clean economy.

All Americans have benefited from Congressman Rush’s work raising awareness about a range of chemicals that consumers encounter every day, and for being a tireless advocate for cleaner air and protecting public health. Congressman Rush has leveraged his position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power to elevate the issue of climate change and draw national attention to how we can best deploy renewable energy.

“We need more in Congress like Senator Brown and Congressman Rush to lead the way in the fight to combat climate change,” Foster added. “After all, climate change is real, it is accelerated by human actions, and if we fail to preempt its frightening costs we will imperil our economic future.”

The Green Jobs Champion Award is given once a year around the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, the nation’s premier gathering of labor, environmental and business leaders to share ideas and strategies about how to build a clean, efficient economy, address climate change, and create good jobs at the same time. 

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Senator Frank Lautenberg
141 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510             

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Senators: 

As a coalition of ten labor unions and four environmental groups, the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) writes today to thank and commend you for your ongoing leadership in the effort to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  We support your newly introduced legislation, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013, and recognize the many years of work which have gone into its creation. 

Unchanged since its creation in 1976, TSCA now lags far behind progressive policies found in other regions, such as the European Union, and fails to address the significant costs associated with hazardous chemicals that are being imposed on downstream users.  Consumers and workers too often have inadequate information regarding chemical products, limiting their ability to make informed decisions.  The current regulatory regime hamstrings innovation in favor of using existing chemicals rather than seeking safer alternatives. 

As our organization participated in the extensive stakeholder dialogue process which you spearheaded to work toward consensus around TSCA reform, we also appreciate the considerable effort at alliance building which underlies the form and content of this bill.  Representing the interests of millions of workers and environmentalists, we particularly applaud the most important provisions of this legislation: 

• Use of a health-based standard to assess chemical safety and explicitly require protection of the most vulnerable populations, including children, workers, minority communities and low-income groups;
• Prohibition against the introduction of new chemicals without a finding that the substance meets the applicable safety standard and is not a known or suspected reproductive, developmental, neurological, or immunological toxicant, carcinogen, mutagen, or endocrine disruptor;
• Directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize those chemicals of particular hazard to the public for immediate risk management;
• Requiring chemical manufacturers to bear the burden of proving that chemical substances meet applicable safety standards;
• Ensuring that workers, communities, and the public have a right to know information regarding their chemical exposure;
• Requiring federal agency coordination to avoid overlapping responsibilities for protecting Americans’ occupational and environmental health;
• Providing federal support for basic and applied research, and incentives for the production of safer alternatives to hazardous substances currently in use. 

The chemical industry is a crucial segment of our national economy, directly or indirectly employing over four millions Americans.  Building on this foundation, your effort to modernize our national chemical regulation policy will revitalize the sector by incentivizing the development and manufacture of new, safer chemicals.  

By placing the burden of demonstrating chemical safety on industry, rather than the EPA, your legislation will jump-start innovation, igniting a new ‘race to the top’ as chemical manufacturers compete freely to develop consumer, worker, and environment friendly new substances.  Far from endangering American jobs, this policy shift will spur the creation of the type of new, middle-class supporting jobs so vital to our nation’s economic well-being. 

In seeking to protect human health through effective government policy, your leadership has created a roadmap to a greener, healthier future for all Americans.  We support your work on this critical endeavor and will continue doing our part to help ensure success moving forward.

Sincerely, 

David A. Foster
Executive Director
BlueGreen Alliance

cc: Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Senator David Vitter, Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Senator Tom Udall, Chair, Senate Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health Subcommittee
Senator Mike Crapo, Ranking Member, Senate Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, DC (April 5, 2013) – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the March unemployment numbers, showing the economy gained only 88,000 jobs. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“The longer Congress allows the sequester and sweeping budget cuts to take effect, the longer we’re stifling America’s economic recovery. Today’s jobs report is proof that looming budget cuts and economic uncertainty are weighing down job creation, innovation and our ability to compete globally.

“There is a right way, a wrong way and a best way for government to support job creation in America.  The right way is for the government to invest in economic activity during a cyclical downturn. The wrong way is to follow Europe — cutting budgets, slowing economic activity and driving up unemployment.  The best way is to make strategic investments in America’s clean energy future and rebuilding our infrastructure for the 21^st century.

“We can put more Americans back to work and stimulate growth by investing now in infrastructure — and preparing our basic systems for the impacts of climate change — and manufacturing more clean energy technologies here in the United States.

“With the release of President Obama’s budget next week, we have the opportunity for America to reset our focus on job creating policies, instead of across-the-board budget cuts. Spurring long-term economic growth today is as important as it has ever been, and we can’t lose sight of that fact.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 26, 2013) – Today BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster applauded the launch of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI) by the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. 

“It’s not every day that we have an opportunity to recapture uniquely American strengths in manufacturing and put them to work against global competitors in an emerging industry like clean energy. The strategic work of the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative will help to ensure we’re leveraging investments to create as many jobs and as much economic growth for the U.S. economy as possible, while saving energy and protecting the environment.

“Over the past few years, wind turbine, solar panel, and fuel-efficient vehicle manufacturing have shown promising growth. CEMI’s priorities of increasing research and development, developing competitiveness analysis, increasing energy productivity resources and building new partnerships to boost clean energy manufacturing will help to provide long-term certainty and guidance so that American manufacturing of these products can compete against global competitors like China and Germany.

“Meeting the demands of clean energy manufacturing marketplace is an opportunity American workers can’t afford to miss out on. This important initiative puts America on track to make sure clean energy is a win for manufacturers, workers, consumers, and the environment, now and for generations to come.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

BlueGreen Alliance Recommends Five Key Actions to Bolster American Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, DC (March 21, 2013) – Today BlueGreen Alliance Deputy Director, Yvette Pena Lopes made five key recommendations to lawmakers regarding the future of America’s manufacturing sector before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. The full text of the testimony is available here.

“Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member and Members of the Subcommittee, I am Yvette Pena Lopes, Deputy Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. On behalf of my organization, our fourteen national labor and environmental partners and the estimated 15 million members and supporters they represent, I want to thank you for holding this hearing today.

“We appreciate the invitation to testify and are honored to join the other panelists from the Congressional Steel Caucus and the steel industry, in particular the CEOs of ArcelorMittal; Allegheny Technologies; and Evraz, who are each valued members of the BlueGreen Alliance’s Corporate Advisory Council.

“The United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club founded the BlueGreen Alliance in 2006, and have since grown to incorporate 12 other labor and environmental organizations to create an Alliance built with a wide variety of priorities and backgrounds.  Our partners have come together to move America towards a 21^st century clean economy, and manufacturing has consistently been a major focus of our Alliance.

“The economic downturn and years of shifting manufacturing production took a significant toll on U.S. manufacturers and their workers.  America has begun to change this, but much more needs to be done to bring these jobs back and ensure that American manufacturing — and the steel industry in particular — are drivers of America’s 21^st century clean economy.

“To achieve this rebirth, we must implement the following five drivers of American manufacturing:

“First, we must rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. Investments in our infrastructure can yield tremendous benefits, including jobs and expanded demand in our domestic steel sector.

“One out of every four of the nation’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, nearly a quarter of the nation’s bus and rail infrastructure is in marginal or poor condition.

“Across the country, 700,000 tons of steel plate is used annually in bridge and building construction projects. If a properly structured infrastructure program is implemented, job creation for the manufacturing sector could clear 250,000 new jobs.

“Second, we must deploy more industrial energy efficiency. Energy efficiency leverages productivity and power from resources that, in many cases, would otherwise literally vanish into thin air.

“When combined with smart policies aimed at minimizing the economic impact to power providers, efficiency gains can be a win for manufacturers, utilities, workers, consumers, and the environment.

“Third, we must integrate more advanced transportation and clean energy into our economy. Whether it is more efficient technology and advanced materials for automobiles, commercial-scale wind turbines, or rail lines, steel is a necessary component for these industries that will drive the 21^st century.

“Last year, the Obama administration set forth the strongest clean car standards in a generation.  Making conventional technology significantly more efficient and using advanced materials to make our cars stronger yet lighter which will make the biggest contributions toward getting the American vehicle fleet to 54.5 miles per gallon over the next 12 years.

“Over the next decade, an estimated $2.3 trillion will be invested in clean technologies. However, according to Ernst and Young the U.S. renewable energy investment climate is losing attractiveness while countries like China and Germany are gaining ground.

“Existing policy support for clean energy does not provide adequate long-term certainty for the industry to succeed. We must implement long-term policy certainty.

“Fourth, we must ensure products and components are made in America. Buy America policies reflect where the jobs are, not where the manufacturing companies are headquartered or incorporated. This approach ensures that taxpayer dollars are reinvested in jobs and communities here at home.

“Fifth, we must continue to support research and development. Manufacturing is responsible for 70 percent of all private-sector research and development spending and 90 percent of all American patents.

The Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office recently launched the Innovative Manufacturing Initiative. One of the projects selected was a partnership between DOE, Arcellor Mittal, U.S. Steel and others to produce Flash Iron-making technology, which is a cleaner, coke-free way to produce iron from abundant domestic iron ore concentrates and natural gas, with 32-57 percent improved energy productivity.

“We must continue to support R&D such as this, as well as the work being done at the Department of Commerce.

“Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, and fellow Members of the Subcommittee we truly believe that these five measures will go a long way toward helping America and its workers reinvigorate the steel sector, U.S. manufacturing, and the middle class AND move America to a clean economy, while ensuring that we continue to address climate change.

“Once again, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Click the link below to read her full written testimony.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 18, 2013) – Reacting to President Obama’s decision today to nominate Thomas E. Perez to replace Hilda Solis as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster released the following statement: 

“The President’s nomination of Thomas E. Perez as the next Secretary of Labor means America’s workers will continue to have a strong advocate for safer working conditions, workers’ rights and growing a more competitive workforce.   

“As we take on the important priority of climate change, our next Labor Secretary will be an important voice on protecting our working families and communities. Worker training and transition programs will be vitally important for a smooth transition as we ready the country for climate change. As we create more jobs and grow the economy, we look forward to working with Thomas Perez to create the fair and safe job opportunities that all Americans deserve.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 8, 2013) Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the February unemployment numbers, showing the economy gained 236,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent. The manufacturing sector stood out also, adding 14,000 jobs. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster: 

“The unemployment numbers released today show America is  making progress — especially in creating and bringing back good manufacturing jobs — but we still need to keep the debate about how best to create good jobs at the forefront of our national agenda. We cannot allow the reckless, sweeping budget cuts that have begun to take effect to overshadow the pressing need to create jobs and tackle the challenge of climate change. 

“Getting our country ready for climate change is a huge opportunity to create millions of good jobs, while protecting our families and communities. We should be renewing investments in clean energy and working towards curbing carbon pollution. Revitalizing roads, rails, energy and water infrastructure will help move people and goods more efficiently, and stimulate American manufacturing. 

“By following through on these investments, Congress can clear the obstacles blocking our way to even more progress and keep the American economy on steady ground.”   

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 5, 2013) In a growing show of support for “Buy America” policies  — which promote the purchase of U.S.-made goods when spending tax dollars — Congressman Nick Rahall (WV) today introduced legislation to ensure Federal transportation and infrastructure investments support American jobs. Similarly, Senator Gillibrand (NY) last week introduced Senate legislation to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. BlueGreen Alliance applauded the bicameral push to expand commitments to American manufacturing that will rebuild the economy and create jobs in communities across the country.

“With gains of half a million jobs since 2009, victories in the American manufacturing industry have helped to rally the economy,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Innovation and investment are fueling this economic engine. Today, we’re still not doing everything we can to maximize American job creation and economic benefits, but the priorities laid out by Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Rahall help to get us there.”

The Invest in American Jobs Act introduced by Rep. Rahall closes loopholes that have allowed manufacturing in major transportation projects to be outsourced by strengthening existing Buy America requirements for transportation investments, applying Buy America requirements to rail infrastructure grants, loans, and loan guarantees for example and by requiring Federal agencies to justify proposed waivers of the Buy America requirements.

Sen. Gillibrand’s bill, called the Made in America Manufacturing Act, creates a competitive program that awards states and regions with funding to support local manufacturers through low-interest loans to build new facilities. In addition, it will aid in the upgrading of equipment and the access to capital and technical assistance to develop exporting opportunities and to connect innovative small suppliers with larger companies.

Manufacturing jobs have high indirect job creation benefits. On average, each manufacturing job supports 2.5 jobs in other sectors, and, at the upper end, each high-tech manufacturing job supports up to 16 jobs in the US economy. These jobs pay 21 percent more in wages and benefits than the average wage, and they more often provide health, pension, and other benefits. Continued Congressional support of the Buy America statutes will ensure continued compliance with high environmental standards in federally funded projects while creating valuable American jobs.

“The bottom line is that Buy America provisions ensure taxpayers’ money benefits the U.S. economy, first and foremost. Our proud history of producing the highest quality products demands that we also have policies that also don’t sell our own economic interests short,” said Foster.

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 4, 2013) – Reacting to President Obama’s decision today to nominate Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson as the next U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator and Ernest Moniz to replace Steven Chu as the Department of Energy Secretary, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster released the following statement:

“President Obama’s decision to nominate Gina McCarthy and Ernest Moniz continues to lay groundwork toward policies that will do more to reduce carbon pollution and expand investments in renewable energy, while better preparing us all for the threat of climate change and creating good, American jobs.

“In particular, the BlueGreen Alliance and our partners have appreciated the way in which Ms. McCarthy has worked with us over the years to not only address climate change and clean air, but to also better understand the needs and impact of plant workers and surrounding communities.

“Both McCarthy and Moniz have the right expertise to lead their agencies that will have a pivotal role establishing policies that will protect the environment, public health for years to come and expand vital clean energy investments. We look forward to swift confirmations so that we can get to work preparing for the challenges and opportunities climate change presents to us.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (February 12, 2013) – Yesterday, BlueGreen Alliance leaders laid out six priorities that America must make to respond to climate change, prepare America’s infrastructure, and create good jobs for the American people. Following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the BlueGreen Alliance released this statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“Tonight, President Obama asked Americans to join him to respond to climate change, to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, and to invest in the promise of clean energy manufacturing to create good jobs for the American people.

“Climate change is having a profound impact on our communities and our economy, and we can no longer wait for action. But this challenge also presents an economic opportunity for our country. Tonight President Obama put forward priorities that will allow us to meet the vital challenges we face today and create quality jobs. Investing in our nation’s infrastructure, strengthening the manufacturing sector and finding more ways to deploy clean energy across the country are the pathway to a better, stronger economy.

“The President’s commitment to making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing and investing in the skills that will help workers perform those jobs will create jobs and strengthen our economy. Expanding investments in clean energy and curbing greenhouse emissions from existing power plants is key to responding to climate change. Investing in our infrastructure will prepare us for the new reality of climate change, help move people and goods more efficiently, and stimulate American manufacturing.

“Congress should heed the president’s call for action on climate change. In a few weeks, our nation will once again face the choice of whether to invest in the priorities that will put people back to work and prepare our nation for the future. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to build a cleaner, stronger, and fairer America for the next generation.”

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

“It’s time we move forward with a bold vision to get the systems we rely on every day in America –power, water, transportation, and communications – back to where we need to be to safeguard our communities as best we can,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster. “We’re calling on President Obama to lay out a clear path for reducing carbon pollution, rebuilding America’s infrastructure, creating good jobs and building a stronger, cleaner, and fairer economy.”

The steps included improving energy efficiency to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and upgrading our electrical transmission systems. In addition, the partnership called for improving energy efficiency in manufacturing, which will make the sector cleaner and more efficient, and deploying clean energy manufacturing.

“In order to address climate change, we need to make our industries more efficient. We need to invest in new sources of power, including wind and solar, and we need to manufacture the clean energy infrastructure and its products here in America,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “Today, we’ve put forward common-sense steps America can take to be ready for the changing climate, and each of these steps will also create good jobs that will get the economy moving.”

Noting the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the region’s basic infrastructure systems and that some union members are still working to repair the electrical grid, the coalition called for rebuilding our energy, water, pipe, and transportation systems, as well as improving the efficiency of the U.S.’s building stock — including schools — to achieve significant energy savings and emissions reductions.

“By investing now in our infrastructure, including energy and water infrastructure, we can cut down on inefficiencies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create good American jobs and ensure that our infrastructure is reliable in the face of the impacts of climate change,” said Mike Langford, President of the Utility Workers Union of America. 

“Last year was the hottest year on record in the U.S., and we all saw the tragic impact that extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy had on communities around the country,” said Union of Concerned Scientists President Kevin Knobloch. “Extreme weather is going to be much more common as climate change continues and we need to get our country ready for it. The President has made it clear that action on climate change will be a priority in his second term, and the highest priority is to make our energy systems, manufacturing facilities, transportation options and infrastructure more resilient while deeply reducing heat-trapping emissions from every source.”

The Six Steps are as follows:

• Improving efficiency to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, while bolstering the transition with a dedication to economic development, as well as upgrading transmission distribution systems across the board, will make America's electricity distribution system cleaner, smarter, more efficient, and more resilient.
• A sincere, dedicated investment in industrial energy efficiency and clean energy manufacturing is needed in this country. Improving industrial energy efficiency and deploying clean energy manufacturing will make the U.S. manufacturing sector cleaner and more competitive.
• Updating our schools, homes and businesses will create energy savings and reduce emissions. And those updates will not just create jobs in construction, but also in the supply chain creating the needed materials to do them.
• America’s century-old water infrastructure damaged by the elements, age, and population growth. We must rebuild our water systems with complementary sustainable, green infrastructure will create jobs and ensure clean water for generations.
• Across the country, pipelines are leaking pollution into our air and water. We can fix this by fixing existing pipelines and improving oversight and implementing strong pipeline safety regulations.
• America needs transportation networks that move people and goods efficiently. Building a 21st century, multi-modal transportation system will ensure our nation competes effectively in the global economy. 

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.