About Us

The Apollo Alliance Project offers a bold vision to catalyze the transition to a clean energy economy that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality green jobs. Inspired by the visionary Apollo space program, we promote investments in the clean energy economy. Working with our coalition of labor, business, environmental and community leaders we will reduce carbon emissions and oil imports, spur domestic job growth and position America to thrive in the 21st Century economy.

Earlier this year, Apollo Alliance joined forces with the BlueGreen Alliance to strengthen and unify the movement to build a clean energy economy that creates good jobs while confronting our energy and environmental challenges. Beginning July 1, the two organizations combined to become the new BlueGreen Alliance, which is now home to the Apollo Alliance Project. This powerful merged organization will continue to partner with labor unions, environmental groups, businesses and community organizations to advance a bold vision of how America create good jobs, reduce pollution and our dependence on foreign oil, and ensure America is a leader in the 21^st Century economy.

Together the Apollo Alliance Project and the BlueGreen Alliance are building a bigger, stronger and more effective movement to create good, American jobs and protect the environment for the next generation.

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national, strategic partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006 by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, this unique labor-environmental collaboration has grown to include the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, United Auto Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The BlueGreen Alliance unites more than 14 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy.

History & Achievements

Apollo was launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America, a revolution in the way our country generates and uses energy so profound that it will touch literally every quarter of American life. Harkening back to President Kennedy’s visionary call to restore America’s technological leadership by landing the first man on the Moon within the decade, the Apollo Alliance spoke directly to the core values we share as Americans: our can-do spirit, our inherent optimism, and the pride we feel (or want to feel) about our country’s place in the world. The subtext was clear: we did it before, we can do it again. This is America, the richest, most technologically advanced and industrious country in the world. If anyone can do it, we can. And we will.

Not surprisingly, the Apollo message captured the imagination of people throughout the country. Soon our phone lines were buzzing with calls from political leaders of all stripes wanting to find out what they could do in their states, in their cities, and at the national level to advance Apollo’s clean energy agenda. Apollo responded to the increasing demand for our work by establishing Apollo coalitions in nine states and five cities to promote policy change consistent with our Ten-Point Plan for reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. We released highly regarded energy analyses that confirmed the economic benefits of converting to a clean energy economy and published guides outlining specific strategies for investing in clean energy, greater energy efficiency, and innovative transit and transportation solutions.

Apollo’s unique role in the climate debate is our ability to mobilize a coalition unprecedented in its strength and diversity by speaking directly to the economic benefits of moving toward a clean energy economy. In 2008, as the economy and energy rose to top Americans’ concerns, we released The New Apollo Program, an update of our original Ten-Point Plan developed for the 2004 elections. The plan identifies priorities for federal action and investment, including a “cap and invest” program to reduce carbon emissions; investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and mass transit; a plan to revitalize the manufacturing sector; and specific strategies to expand opportunities for American workers in the clean energy economy.

The New Apollo Program outlines a comprehensive economic investment strategy to build America’s 21st century clean energy economy. Released at a critical juncture in our nation’s economic future – as Congress and the administration called for a $700 billion rescue package to shore up our unstable financial infrastructure – the Apollo program would generate and invest $500 billion over the next ten years to accelerate the development of our vast clean energy resources, dramatically reduce carbon emissions that are destabilizing our planet, and transform America into the global leader of the new green economy.

Apollo key accomplishments since 2008 include:

Publishing The Apollo Economic Recovery Act, Apollo’s proposal for a comprehensive quick start, clean energy economic recovery strategy to immediately create or retain 650,000 direct green-collar jobs and an additional 1.3 million indirect jobs in communities across the country. This gained inclusion of $25 billion in the 2008 federal economic rescue package for low-interest loans to auto manufacturers who retool their factories to make cleaner vehicles. Apollo worked with Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow to secure the loan provisions and funding.
Organizing Newark’s Green Future Summit in partnership with Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker and other national and local partners. The September 2008 summit and the year of planning leading up to it were the products of a commitment we made together at the Clinton Global Initiative last fall to help establish Newark as a national model for clean and efficient energy use, green-collar job creation, and green economic development.
Writing and publishing Imagining Newark’s Green Future, a report documenting our year working in Newark. The report reviews our Newark project in depth and presents it as a model for how other cities and communities can organize green-collar job programs.
Writing and co-publishing Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities, a guide for urban leaders about ways to expand local green-collar jobs. The guide explains how to link job creation and economic development strategies to methods of reducing CO2 emissions and meeting other energy goals. At the same time, we co-wrote (with the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and the Workforce Alliance) a state version of the report, Greener Pathways.

Organization

In late 2007 Apollo spun off from its founding organizations, Campaign for America’s Future and Center for Wisconsin Strategy, formed its own Board of Directors, and expanded its staff and program to better meet the critical challenge of promoting clean energy and good jobs. In 2011, The Apollo Alliance merged with the BlueGreen Alliance, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, which is now home to the Apollo Alliance Project.

For a full list of the current members of the Apollo Alliance Advisory Board, click here.