Contacts:
| Blue Green Alliance | Joshua Low, | 901-355-3548 (m) |
| Blue Green Alliance | Stephanie Zawistowski, | 612-378-4183 |
Twin Cities Can Create Thousands of New "Green Collar" Manufacturing Jobs in Renewable Energy Sector
Cities and Blue Green Alliance Will Call on Congress to Pass Renewable Energy Legislation to Benefit MinnesotaMinneapolis — Today, Mayors R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman joined the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership of the Sierra Club and United Steelworkers; Environment America, a national environmental advocacy group; and Mortenson Construction, a Minnesota-based construction company and the leading wind energy contractor in North America; at a press conference to discuss how Minnesota could generate thousands of new "green" jobs through manufacturing the components for wind turbines, solar panels, and other renewable energy equipment.
At the press conference, the Blue Green Alliance released a new study, Minnesota's Road to Energy Independence (pdf). The study, prepared by the Renewable Energy Policy Project, found that 364 firms in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties could benefit from 8,594 new jobs, including 3,749 from wind turbine manufacturing and 2,830 in solar manufacturing. Benefits would not be limited to the Twin Cities. Minnesota could create 18,405 jobs in total.
"Why order wind turbines from Denmark or Spain to put up in Minnesota when we know that the Twin Cities has the workers and the factories to make them right here in the state?" asked Gerry Parzino of the United Steelworkers. "Gearboxes from Minneapolis and solar panels from St. Paul make sense for both the environment and Minnesotas economy. Minnesota is blessed with the natural resources to help America fight global warming, now it's time for us to take advantage of the Twin Cities' human resources to help put these smart energy solutions — and our citizens — to work."
At a time when the U.S. is rapidly losing manufacturing jobs, renewable energy manufacturing can revitalize communities across Minnesota that have lost jobs, as well creating a whole new generation of good-paying manufacturing jobs.
Companies in Minnesota, like Mortenson Construction, are already investing in creating thousands of energy jobs. Since 1995, Mortenson's Energy Group has been involved in the construction of 62 energy projects in 27 states and provinces. The Energy Group employs more than 200 full time employees who are Minnesota residents, representing a total labor value of approximately $15 million.
Mayors R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman and the Blue Green Alliance recently created the Mayors' Green Manufacturing Initiative to work to attract green collar jobs and businesses, such as wind turbine component manufacturing, to the Twin Cites and help current manufacturers become greener and expand. The Initiative is currently evaluating the best ways to attract green manufacturers and will produce a report early in 2008.
"By pushing more renewable energy — something that will fight global warming and protect the environment — Minneapolis and St. Paul can reinvigorate the manufacturing base and create thousands of jobs here," said Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Mayor Chris Coleman added, "Fighting global warming offers us an 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."
Strong State and National Renewable Energy Standards Needed
The Mayors Rybak and Coleman and the representatives from the United Steelworkers and Sierra Club also called on Congress to include a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) — a requirement that 15 percent of our energy nationally come from renewable sources like wind, solar, and biomass — in the final energy bill it is due to take up soon. After Republicans, led by Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, filibustered such a standard in the Senate, it was passed by the House of Representatives in its version of the energy bill. It is essential that this provision be included in the final bill.
"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. "By enacting a national standard, Congress could make sure that all states can benefit from the green energy manufacturing boom. All the pieces are there, Congress just needs to pass a final bill to flip the switch on America's clean energy future."
Minnesota has already passed one of the most aggressive renewable electricity standards in the country. The new law requires Xcel Energy, the largest electricity producer in the state, to generate 30 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, with at least 25 percent generated by wind energy. All other utilities will be required to generate at least 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025.
"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."
David Foster, Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance, said, "We believe environmental challenges like global warming represent the most important economic opportunities of our generation. This study confirms that view."
"Mortenson is honored to do our part to help build the next generation of America's energy economy, across the country and right here in Minnesota," said David Mortenson of Mortenson Construction. "We are committed to environmental stewardship and our corporate responsibility to lead by example. As the largest builder and design-builder of wind energy projects in the U.S., we are creating hundreds of new Minnesota jobs in this critical emerging industry of sustainable power."
In addition to creating thousands of new jobs, analyses have demonstrated that enacting a national RES could save hardworking American families up to $18 billion by 2020 on their energy bills by lowering the cost of natural gas, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Savings for consumers here in Minnesota would add up to $118 million. This would also benefit industry and farmers who also depend heavily on natural gas.
"Representatives Keith Ellison, Jim Ramstad, and Betty McCollum voted in favor of clean renewable energy when Congress was working on its energy bills this summer," said Gerry Parzino of the United Steelworkers. "We thank them for their vote and hope they will continue to work hard to ensure that the final energy bill includes the national Renewable Energy Standard passed by the House. This is something that will benefit each and every one of us by saving us money on our energy bills, protecting our environment, and strengthening our state's economy."
About the Blue Green Alliance:
The Blue Green 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.
About Environment America
Environment America,
the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work, is a national
environmental advocacy group, representing a federation of
state-based, citizen-funded organizations. Our professional staff in
23 states and Washington, D.C., combines independent research,
practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition
of powerful special interests and win real results for the
environment.
About the Renewable Energy Policy Project:
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 and 202-293-2898,
ext. 203.
About Mortenson Construction:
Founded in 1954, Mortenson is
a U.S.-based, family-owned construction company. As one of the
nation's top builders, Mortenson has offices in Chicago, Denver,
Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Seattle with international
operations in Canada and China. Engineering News-Record
ranked Mortenson 38 in the 2007 Top 400 Contractors listing and
recently named the company the 17th Top Green Contractor.
For more information, please visit mortenson.com.