Today, more than 60 labor unions, environmental groups, and faith, consumer, health, and economic justice organizations sent a letter to Senate Democrats urging them to support the inclusion of a bonus tax credit for consumer electric vehicles manufactured in factories where workers are represented by a union, a provision included in the Build Back Better Act.
Sunrise Movement, Sierra Club, Greenpeace USA, League of Conservation Voters, Blue-Green Alliance, Center for American Progress, Center for Biological Diversity, Elders Climate Action, Friends of the Earth, and 350.org call for Rivian to meet the moment for climate action and labor justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, the National AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumka, passed away. Trumka was a pillar of the American labor movement, previously having served as the president of the United Mine Workers of America. Trumka dedicated his life to advocate for labor rights and was a true ally of Democracy for all working families.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
Informes aseguran que la Bancada Demócrata del Congreso presentará hoy un proyecto de ley que impondría una tarifa a los materiales importados fabricados con un alto nivel de contaminación climática.
Yet again last night, Donald Trump took to again making up absurd claims about wind and solar energy. Even the crowd didn’t seem to know what to make of these lies. While it’s long been clear Donald Trump has his head in the sand on the climate crisis, it’s clear that ignorance extends to the booming clean energy job market as well.
East Hampton, NY —Today, environmental, labor and local organizations, and residents attended an East Hampton hearing where they urged the New York Public Service Commission to move forward expeditiously on the permitting process to ensure New York’s first offshore wind farm gets built.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Democrats are holding the first hearing on the recently introduced Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act -- led by Representatives Scott, Wilson, Levin, Jayapal, and Boyle, and Senators Murray, Brown, and Rosen -- seeks to strengthen protections for workers to organize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The PRO Act is the biggest proposed overhaul of the National Labor Relations Act in over 70 years.
Los Angeles, CA -- Today, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivers the State of the City, announcing a framework for a Green New Deal in Los Angeles. Garcetti is raising the ambition in the City’s sustainability plan, establishing a Climate Emergency Commission composed of frontline communities, and continuing leadership in phasing gas out of Los Angeles’ economy and transitioning to 100% clean energy.
Annapolis, M.D.--The Maryland General Assembly just passed the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and has subsequently sent the bill to the Governor’s desk for signature. The bill will accelerate the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50% by 2030, including a huge leap in solar energy combined with quadrupling the state’s commitment to offshore wind. Additionally, the bill will provide millions of dollars to workforce development programs, and require the state to create a plan and complete a robust analysis in order to accomplish the goal of Maryland going 100% clean energy by 2040.
Oakland, Calif., -- Today, community, labor and environmental organizations in cities across the U.S. are taking action for transit equity. The second Transit Equity Day commemorates civil rights icon Rosa Parks on her birthday. Her act of resistance by refusing to give up her seat on the bus in 1955 was a catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights movement.
Boston, MA - The Boston metropolitan area created more than 2.300 new jobs in the state’s growing solar industry last year, according to a report released today by The Solar Foundation. The Boston area is now home to 12,487 solar jobs, an increase of 24% from 2015 figures. The findings highlight the enormous jobs potential for a transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy in Boston, as well as the opportunity for Mayor Walsh to be a leader on creating more family-sustaining, union jobs in a growing industry across the region.
As a new report from the Solar Foundation revealed a 71 percent increase in metro Detroit solar industry jobs, President Trump signed an executive order to begin repealing the landmark Clean Power Plan, which incentivizes clean energy jobs.