The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today completed the first-ever lease sale for offshore wind rights on the West Coast. The sale represents the first U.S. offshore wind lease sale in the Pacific Ocean and is the first to support the potential for commercial-scale floating offshore wind.

A federal Buy Clean policy that prioritizes transparency, invests in innovation, and ties public dollars to low-carbon emissions materials holds the promise of transforming some of the most pollution-intensive and economically vital sectors in our economy—allowing us to confront climate change while rebuilding the middle class and advancing environmental justice.

The BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations, announced today that the organization has endorsed 44 candidates in U.S. House and Senate races across the country. The endorsement is a recognition that the incumbents and challengers are leaders in the efforts to create good-paying union jobs, fight economic and racial injustice, and reduce pollution that harms communities and workers as well as drives climate change.

The White House yesterday hosted a convening with National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, and leaders from 20 states to discuss advancing Buy Clean initiatives. Alongside the convening, the White House released a fact sheet on Buy Clean efforts. The fact sheet outlines new federal support, private sector commitments, and state and local action.

The BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations, today announced the organization has endorsed Speaker Nancy Pelosi for California’s 12th Congressional District. 

U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U.S. Rep Cindy Axne (D-IA) joined local labor and environmental leaders this week at Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 33 Training Center in Des Moines for a tour of the facility and a roundtable discussion focused on growing Iowa’s clean energy economy with good jobs and strong labor standards.

The BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations, today announced the organization has endorsed Katie Porter for the 47th Congressional District in California.

Today the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Climate Policy Office (CPO) will announce new actions under the Federal Buy Clean Initiative to spur the development of low-carbon construction materials. Ahead of the announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance released a new white paper entitled Buy Clean: A Tool to Create Good Jobs, Cut Pollution, and Renew Manufacturing.

There are a number of ways that Buy Clean helps to ensure that government spending on infrastructure projects reduces pollution, revitalizes American manufacturing, and benefits workers and communities. Here are just a few, explored in more detail in a report entitled Buy Clean: A Tool to Create Good Jobs, Cut Pollution, and Renew Manufacturing:

Two new reports released by Global Efficiency Intelligence (GEI) add to the evidence that policies prioritizing clean manufacturing can be a win-win-win for clean air, worker and community health, and good union jobs. The reports—which were commissioned by the Sierra Club in partnership with BlueGreen Alliance—compare air pollution levels from steel and cement production in various countries. 

This past week, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released a report establishing offshore wind goals. Newly adopted goals plan for 3,000-5,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy by 2030 and increase that projection to 25,000 MW by 2045. The report estimates that this will be enough electricity to power up to 25 million homes. 

President Joe Biden today signed the Inflation Reduction Act, a budget reconciliation bill that includes $369 billion in energy and climate investments and will create an estimated 9 million jobs over 10 years. Additionally, the bill will reduce emissions by up to 44% by 2030 and invest in economic justice programs.