UPDATE: Clean Energy Jobs Now! Tour to End With Pittsburgh Rally September 23rd

Event to rally support for American clean energy jobs joined by Governor Rendell

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign, the United Steelworkers and the Blue Green Alliance will conclude their Clean Energy Jobs Tour with a rally in Pittsburgh on September 23rd. The Jobs Tour, a month long campaign with more than 50 events in 22 states, is highlighting how a transition to a clean energy economy will create jobs while reducing harmful carbon pollution and breaking our dependence on foreign oil.

The Pittsburgh event will feature musical entertainment, including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir and Grammy award winning artist Kathy Mattea. Scheduled speakers include Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and other elected officials, now including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, as well as leaders from the labor, business, faith, sportsmen and environmental communities. The event is free and open to the public. Information can be found at www.repoweramerica.org/rallyforcleanenergyjobs.

“American workers and their families need jobs, and a clean energy economy is a sure fire way to put our country back to work and on a path toward long term economic prosperity,” said Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection.

According to the Center for American Progress, transitioning to a clean energy economy will create more than 70,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. A recent report by the Blue Green Alliance showed that Pennsylvania stands to gain more than 42,000 manufacturing jobs in wind, solar, geothermal and biomass by instituting a renewable electricity standard.

“We can create millions of jobs building the clean energy economy — whether it’s manufacturing the parts for windmills, building hybrid car batteries or weatherizing homes to make them more efficient,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance. “By transitioning to a clean energy economy, we can revitalize America’s manufacturing sector and boost our economy for the long run — by creating jobs here at home.”

“Building a clean energy economy can revitalize American manufacturing, but only if we commit to using domestically produced components,” said United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard. “In confronting the challenges of recession, global warming and energy independence, we have an opportunity to transform our economy and create good jobs that truly are Made in America.”

    WHAT:   Clean Energy Jobs Now! Rally

    WHERE:  Point State Park
            Pittsburgh, PA

    WHEN:   Wednesday, September 23, 2009
            5:30 p.m. doors open, 7 p.m. program

    WHO:
            Governor Edward G. Rendell
            Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Executive
            Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
            State Senator Jim Ferlo
            Big Head Todd & the Monsters
            Anna Burger, Chair, Change to Win
            Da Flow Band
            David Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
            Maggie Fox, President and CEO, The Alliance for Climate Protection
            Lee Geisse, USW Member and clean energy worker from Canton, Ohio
            Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers
            Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
            Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
            Alec Loorz, Founder, Kids vs Global Warming and Youth Leader,
              Alliance for Climate Education
            Kathy Mattea, Grammy Award Winning Artist
            The Pittsburgh Gospel Choir, Directed by Dr. Herbert Jones
            Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club
            Gloria Reuben, Actor/Activist
            Larry Schweiger, President, National Wildlife Federation
            Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
            Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus

For more information about the Clean Energy Jobs Tour, visit Repower America http://www.repoweramerica.org/tour or the Blue Green Alliance at www.bluegreenalliance.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Julia Payne, Alice McKeon, Repower America, (202) 628 1999, press@climateprotect.org

Kelly Schwinghammer, Blue Green Alliance, (612) 466 4488, kellys@bluegreenalliance.org

Benjamin Freed, Repower Pennsylvania, (917) 903 3031, benjamin.freed@climateprotect.org

Wayne Ranick, United Steelworkers, (412) 562 2444, wranick@usw.org

SOURCE Alliance for Climate Protection