House Committee Approves Energy, Climate Bill; Conference in Ohio
This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a new national energy strategy that puts a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and sets up a market for regulated industries to buy and sell “allowances” that encourage companies to reduce emissions beneath that limit.
The proposal will soon be taken up by the full House, and the Senate is starting work on its own bill. At issue in both chambers will be not only the cap and trade provision, but also the effect of the bill on the American economy, especially for the clean energy manufacturing sector. Fortunately, the House bill now includes several important domestic clean energy manufacturing provisions that will:
• Help finance clean energy manufacturing and deployment.
• Encourage manufacturers to retool or expand their facilities to produce clean energy systems.
• Help auto manufacturers produce the batteries that will power the electric cars of the future.
Apollo Alliance Statement on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act
CONTACT: Sam Haswell: (415) 371-1700 x201
SAN FRANCISCO – Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance, today issued the following statement on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act:
“The Apollo Alliance congratulates Chairmen Waxman and Markey and the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership and determination in passing this historic legislation.
“Although we still have plenty of work to do to ensure a smooth and just transition to the clean energy economy, this bill is a giant leap forward in our efforts to establish energy security, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and create millions of green jobs that will put our citizens back to work and get our economy back on track.
“Now we must work together to strengthen this legislation as it makes its way through Congress. The House bill is groundbreaking and will dramatically increase demand for clean energy, but we still need to put in place the comprehensive investments which will ensure that America’s manufacturing sector is geared up to meet that demand.
“The Apollo Alliance will continue to press legislators on both sides of the aisle to include stronger investments in domestic clean energy manufacturing so we can meet new clean energy demand with well-paying, American jobs that can sustain families and serve as the backbone of a thriving middle class.”
Michigan Clean Energy Companies — A Sampling
Dowding Industries, a manufacturer of wind turbine components has orders from European and American wind turbine manufacturers. The company built a new $7 million plant in Eaton Rapids that could eventually employ 350 new green-collar jobs.
Hemlock Semiconductor, which makes polycrystalline siliconfor photovoltaic panels, is building a new $1 billion facility near Midland, providing 500 new green-collar jobs.
Michigan’s Sun, Wind Sprout New Clean Energy Jobs Sector
MANISTEE, MI - Every half-century or so since its founding in 1841, this stubborn Lake Michigan port city, which cut hardwood for lake steamers in the 19th century and built parts for Detroit carmakers in the 20th, has endured the optimistic surge and demoralizing retreat of economic transition. Last month, on the kind of cold, wet, early spring day that makes residents question their allegiance to northern Michigan, Manistee latched onto what it believes is the next era of industrial opportunity, a future built quite literally out of thin air.
‘The Great Transition’
People are asking questions about the clean energy revolution. How will investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and efficiency translate into enough good jobs and shared prosperity to restart the economy? How will workers most in need of assistance get access to the necessary social and economic supports, retraining, and good jobs? What changes are in store for federal workforce programs, education systems, and worker supports?
The Building Workforce Partnerships Conference 2009 will provide answers, or at the very least more questions! The conference theme is ‘The Great Transition’ and will explore the potential of a federal policy convergence that addresses economic security, energy independence, and government stimulus.
Apollo Alliance is a co-sponsor of the conference and will be participating in many of the sessions. The conference will take place on May 27-28, 2009 at the San Jose Hilton Hotel in San Jose, CA.
Let’s start at the end with the closing luncheon plenary on Thursday. Phil Angelides, Apollo Alliance chairman, will moderate a conversation between Carl Pope, the executive director of the Sierra Club and Apollo board member, and James Galbraith, author and professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. They will discuss whether or not we are witnessing a Green New Deal.
A little earlier in the day, Barbara Byrd, the secretary-treasurer of Oregon AFL-CIO and convenor of the Oregon Apollo Alliance, will moderate a panel about how to make policy operational in the green energy economy.
Here’s a sampling of other Apollo participants:
Carla Din, western regional director, will cover Apollo efforts at both the California and federal levels on a panel - “Building a Clean Energy Manufacturing Sector in the U.S.”
Elena Foshay, research associate, will moderate a panel entitled “Weatherization, the Recovery Act and High-Road Jobs.”
Jeremy Shenk of Community Labor United and our Boston affiliate will be on a panel that discusses coalition building.
The rest of the roster includes many of our friends from the green-collar jobs universe.
– Heidi Pickman
Lessons From Europe on Clean Energy Manufacturing Policy That Works
America is on the verge of enacting groundbreaking energy legislation that will greatly increase demand for new renewable energy and energy efficiency systems. Read more
Laborers Join Newark to Train Residents in Weatherization
The Laborer’s International Union of North America Eastern Region, The Garden State Alliance for a New Economy, and the City of Newark have partnered on a green-collar job training initiative. Read more
Capping Carbon, Michigan Moves on Clean Energy
Over the last three months, with determination and legislative success born of economic urgency, the White House and Congress have done more to treat America’s addiction to fossil fuels than any government in history. The $787 billion Recovery Act enacted in February and the appropriations bill approved in March invested nearly $200 billion to scale up wind, solar, clean fuels, next generation vehicles, a smart energy grid, energy efficiency, and transit. President Obama’s budget outline, approved in April, calls for $150 billion more in clean energy development.
Now, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are working on a new energy policy that, if done right, would put a cap and a price on carbon emissions and drive demand for a whole new generation of jobs in the clean and efficient energy sectors.
Senator Boxer Honors Apollo Leaders
On Friday, May 8, 2009, Senator Barbara Boxer presented an Environmental Leadership Award to Apollo Alliance’s Phil Angelides, Chairman and Jerome Ringo, President in recognition of their contribution to the clean energy, good job economy (see pix left.)
Since our founding in 2003, Apollo Alliance has led the fight for a clean-energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs. By ramping up domestic clean-energy production, we can secure the nation’s energy supply, curb climate change, and ensure a broadly shared prosperity. The message that Apollo has been promoting for six years – the message of clean energy, good jobs – is now the economic message of our times.
One of our major strengths is our coalition. The policies we bring to the table come with a broad base of support, which gives us real influence with policy makers. For example, we sent a delegation composed of economists, businessmen, and labor and environmental leaders to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators about what should be in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As a result, the stimulus package included more than $110 billion in spending and incentives for the clean energy sector, many of which were proposed and advocated by the Apollo Alliance. We are now working hard to ensure that the energy bill includes a domestic manufacturing policy for clean energy.
Other award recipients included:
Robert Redford-Environmentalist, Activist, Board Trustee-Natural Resources Defense Council
Nicole Lederer and Bob Epstein-Environmental Entrepreneurs
Christine H. Russell-Trustee: Columbia Foundation, Gaia Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council
Audrey Rust-Peninsula Open Space Trust
Congratulations to all of the award recipients. In this photo: Audrey Rust, Robert Redford,Nicole Lederer, Phil Angelides, Senator Barbara Boxer, Jerome Ringo, Christine Russel, and Bob Epstein.
Photo courtesy of P K B Visions.
Apollo Alliance Denounces Conservative Attacks On Green Jobs
Apollo President Jerome Ringo Calls GOP Rhetoric
“Misguided and Counterproductive”
CONTACT: Sam Haswell: (415) 371-1700 x201
SAN FRANCISCO – Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance, today released the following statement denouncing recent conservative attacks on green jobs:
“In recent weeks, conservatives have upped the ante on the green jobs debate by releasing a series of bogus reports and attacks on green job creation in the United States. As a Louisiana native, I was especially disappointed to hear Congressman John Fleming disparage the jobs that thousands of American workers are already doing in green industries around the country. Congressman Fleming should take the time to meet some of the laborers, engineers, architects, machinists, steelworkers and others who are building wind turbines, designing energy efficient houses and cars, and making a living doing real work in the new green economy in jobs that cannot be shipped overseas.
“It is precisely this type of misguided and counterproductive rhetoric that is fueling mainstream America’s perception of the GOP as a party that would rather let America’s economy fail than embrace new ideas to rebuild the country’s middle class and move us toward energy independence. The energy and climate bill under debate in Congress is an opportunity for the country to unite and transition from our faltering fossil fuels-based economy to a vibrant economy that runs on clean energy.
“It’s time for solutions that move us forward, not attacks that preserve the status quo. A responsible climate and energy bill that includes investments in domestic clean energy manufacturing will help establish energy security and create millions of well-paying, green-collar jobs. We urge Representative Fleming and others in Congress to start championing good solutions rather than blocking them.”
The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of labor, business, environmental and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs.
For more information, visit ApolloAlliance.org.
