'Green Job Corps' Expected to Return as Part of Long-Term Economic Stimulus

With Green Provisions Out of Short-Term Stimulus, Additional Efforts to Spark
Struggling Economy Likely Will Be Needed Later in Year; "Clean Energy Jobs"
Theme Embraced by Obama, Clinton Campaigns.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A "Clean Energy Corps" must be
a key part of any long term economic stimulus package, according to University
of Massachusetts-Amherst economist James Boyce and K.C. Golden, policy
director of Climate Solutions.

Congress missed a golden opportunity to invest in sustainable prosperity last
week when it failed to fund a "Clean Energy" (or "Green Jobs") Corps as part
of its short-term stimulus package. The Clean Energy Corps would put America
to work on real climate and energy solutions, providing job opportunities to
young and poor Americans in renewable energy, energy efficiency and
weatherization projects. Many policy makers and economic experts expect that a
larger, more long-term economic stimulus package will be necessary later this
year.

Boyce and Golden noted that a "Clean Energy Corps" is essential to move the
United States to a green-economy future while providing jobs and economic
opportunities for minority and other low-income communities -- many of which
have not shared in recent economic boom periods. The "green jobs" theme
already has been raised to varying degrees in the campaigns of presidential
candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"The best long-term stimulus would be targeted investments in energy
efficiency, mass transit, and a 'Clean Energy Corps' to put hundreds of
thousands of Americans to work," said Boyce. "Clean energy jobs will
strengthen the economy, make America more energy independent and ease the harm
of global warming. Plus, clean energy jobs would help less-advantaged
Americans join the growing economy of the future."

"A Clean Energy Corps can be the first green wave of a new, stronger economy,
with more economic opportunities for more Americans," said Climate Solutions'
KC Golden. "We're very encouraged to hear presidential contenders focusing on
green jobs, but we need to get the green economy rolling now, in this
Congress. By funding the Clean Energy Corps, Congress can provide near-term
economic relief while investing in long-term solutions to some of our most
pressing national challenges: poverty, fossil fuel dependence, and climate
disruption."

The "Clean Energy Corps" concept was outlined on January 29th, 2008, when two
dozen leading environmental and minority groups urged the White House and
Congress to develop an economic stimulus package that puts equal emphasis on
clean energy and economic equity. In a joint statement to President George
Bush, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
the groups write: "By increasing national energy efficiency, reducing
out-of-pocket energy spending, and creating employment opportunities, the
measures above will meet basic stimulus goals while furthering national
objectives of climate protection, energy security, and economic equity."

A full version of the January 29th statement is viewable at:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-29-2008/0004745053&EDATE=.

The joint statement was signed by 1Sky; Breakthrough Institute; Center for
Neighborhood Technology; Center for State Innovation; Climate Crisis
Coalition; Climate Protection Campaign; Climate Solutions; ColorOfChange.Org;
The Corps Network; Earth Day Network; EcoAmerica; Ella Baker Center for Human
Rights; Energize America; Green for All; Green House Network; Hip Hop Caucus;
Innovations in Civic Participation; Kyoto USA; MoveOn.Org Political Action;
Solve Climate; Step It Up!; Sustainable South Bronx; and U.S. Climate
Emergency Council.

SOURCE James Boyce, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA; K.C.
Golden, Climate Solutions, Olympia, WA

Ailis Aaron Wolf, +1-703-276-3265, aawolf@hastingsgroup.com, for James Boyce,
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and K.C. Golden, Climate Solutions