Brian Willis: Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The BW Research Partnership released a new analysis today that found the U.S. clean energy sector added a scant 3,195 jobs in July, after the sector lost a total of 511,075 jobs since the beginning of the pandemic. This decline of nearly 15 percent in employment levels from pre-pandemic levels has persisted for more than four months - a trend that puts these clean energy jobs in danger of not coming back after the pandemic is contained.
The Sierra Club and its allies have been proactively pressuring Congressional Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation that extends unemployment benefits and continues or revives popular clean energy programs and tax incentives, as the pandemic keeps millions out of work. Despite strong support from the American people, and bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump have refused to move an adequate unemployment insurance and clean energy aid package forward.
In response, Mary Anne Hitt, National Director of Campaigns at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Since April, more than five hundred thousand clean energy workers have been struggling to pay their bills, plan their futures, and provide for their dependents because Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell are prioritizing corporate polluters and executives. Millions of communities across our country need action now, not empty gestures and rhetoric. It’s past time for Trump and McConnell to put families first, not their fossil fuel cronies, by agreeing to legislation that will safely put people back to work and provide relief to industries that will help our national, state, and local economies recover.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.