BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster Testifies on American Clean Energy and Security Act Wednesday

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 2009) BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster will testify today in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as part of a panel on “Green Jobs and Economic Benefits.” The testimony comes after the BlueGreen Alliance announced its principles for comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation in 2009, which they said is a necessary step toward putting millions of Americans back to work, reducing global warming emissions and moving America toward energy independence.

Read the climate statement here, or by visiting www.bluegreenalliance.org.

The BlueGreen Alliance believes that the final legislation should focus on the retention and creation of millions of family-sustaining green jobs. These principles encourage legislation that, driven by a cap-and-trade system, relies on the best scientific advice on emissions reductions and the tools required for implementation that put Americans back to work during this global economic crisis.

“In this economic crisis, creating jobs is a priority, and by passing climate change legislation this year, we can start putting Americans to work building the clean energy economy,” said Foster. “And in order to both protect the environment and increase our energy independence, climate change legislation must focus on creating and retaining good, family-sustaining green jobs across the United States.”

Read David Foster’s testimony here or by visiting www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Foster emphasized the importance of ensuring safeguards for American energy-intensive companies that compete in the global economy with countries that do not have the same emissions standards. He also stressed the importance of smart regulations like a renewable energy standard in the final legislation.

“Policies like a strong renewable energy standard are essential in creating a regulatory framework that supports renewable energy, energy efficiency, and new transmission, as they provide important market signals that will attract private investment at the scale necessary to put millions more Americans back to work,” continued Foster.

The BlueGreen Alliance is a strategic national partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy.  Launched by the United Steelworkers and Sierra Club in 2006, this unique partnership has grown to include CWA, NRDC, LIUNA and SEIU – uniting more than six million union members and environmentalists in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy.

-30-