Senator Sherrod Brown Leads Ten U.S. Senators in Letter to President Obama Supporting Clean Energy Legislation That Promotes International Competitiveness of Domestic Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 6, 2009) After ten U.S. Senators, lead by Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, today wrote to President Barack Obama (read the letter) to convey the need to maintain a level playing field for American manufacturing in climate change legislation, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement:

“The BlueGreen Alliance, representing eight million people, believes we have a unique opportunity to create long-lasting, high-quality jobs and stave off the worst effects of climate change by enacting comprehensive energy and climate legislation this year. That legislation needs to include measures to help modernize and clean up America’s manufacturing industries while guarding against shifting production, jobs and pollution to other countries.

“The BlueGreen Alliance supports the leadership efforts of the senators who wrote President Obama today on the need to include these safeguards in energy and climate legislation – Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Carl Levin (D-MI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Al Franken (D-MN).  In their letter, these Senators called for including: (1) transitional allocations of emissions allowances to energy-intensive and trade-exposed U.S. industries; (2) a revolving loan fund to help small- and medium-size manufacturers improve energy efficiency and adopt clean energy technologies; and (3) a long-term border-adjustment provision to ensure the fair treatment of American workers if other countries fail to address global climate change after those allocations phase out.

“We appreciate the leadership of these senators and look forward to working with them and others to pass clean energy and climate legislation this year that addresses the energy, economic and environmental challenges of our nation in ways that strengthen American manufacturing and the American workforce.”

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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 energy economy. Launched by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club in 2006, the BlueGreen Alliance now includes the Communications Workers of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Service Employees International Union, Utility Workers Union of America and American Federation of Teachers.