WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Congresswoman Stephanie
Tubbs Jones and Senator Sherrod Brown along with The Blue Green Alliance held
a conference call to discuss a new report for the importance of Renewable
Energy as a job creation engine for Ohio and as an affordable alternative to
the rising cost of fossil fuel. 29,000 jobs can be created with just $4
million in investment and a strong state renewable energy standard.
The Blue Green Action Alliance, the public policy partnership of the Sierra
Club and the United Steelworkers, released a new report, "Ohio's Road to
Energy Independence," detailing the thousands of new green jobs that could be
created by manufacturing the components for wind turbines, solar panels, and
other renewable energy equipment. The study, prepared by the Renewable Energy
Policy Project, found that firms in Ohio could benefit from 29,922 new jobs --
including 13,215 from wind turbine manufacturing and 5957 jobs in solar
manufacturing.
"Why order wind turbines from Denmark to put up in Toledo when we know that
Ohio has the workers and the factories to make them right here in the state?"
said USW Media Spokesperson Tony Montana.
"Turbines from Cleveland and solar panels from Cincinnati make sense for both
the environment and Ohio's economy." said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "Ohio's been
blessed with the natural resources to help America fight global warming, now
it's time for us to take advantage of Ohio's skilled labor force to help put
these smart energy solutions -- and our citizens -- to work."
Since NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) passed in 1994, Ohio has
rapidly lost manufacturing jobs. Renewable energy manufacturing, the report
indicates, can revitalize communities across Ohio that have lost jobs, as well
creating a whole new generation of good-paying manufacturing jobs. States
across the country, such as Iowa, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, have
already seen thousands of new jobs created in the clean energy manufacturing
sector and have all passed renewable energy standards that ensure a certain
percentage of the state's energy will come from clean, renewable sources such
as wind and solar.
"By pushing more renewable energy -- something that will fight global warming
and protect the environment -- Ohio can enjoy the same benefits that other
states are already seeing," said Executive Director of the Blue Green
Alliance, Dave Foster. "Fighting global warming offers us a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a stronger, greener, and more
equitable economy, while leaving a cleaner planet and stable climate for our
children and grandchildren."
The groups also called on Ohio to have a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) "The
states that moved earliest and most aggressively to establish renewable
electricity standards have seen thousands of new jobs created already," said
Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director.
"Right now, we have a historic opportunity to forge a new direction," said Leo
Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers. "Investments in
environmentally friendly alternative energy programs at the state level,
supported by federal initiatives, can create a new surge of quality job growth
while significantly reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot allow
this opportunity to pass us by. There are no good jobs without a clean
environment, and vice-versa."
The Blue Green Action Alliance is a public policy partnership of the United
Steelworkers, North America's largest manufacturing union, and the 1.3 million
members and supporters of the Sierra Club, the nation's largest grassroots'
environmental organization. BGA is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.
The Renewable Energy Policy Project is a Washington, DC-based think tank that
concentrates on analysis of the renewable energy industry. For the past three
years REPP has focused attention on the need for state and federal policies
that support the growth of the renewable energy industry. George Sterzinger is
Executive Director of REPP. He can be reached at gsterzinger@repp.org and
202-293-2898, ext. 203.
SOURCE Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Nicole Y. Williams of the Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
+1-202-225-7032
