FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Margaret Levin, State Director, 612-659-9124 x306
Date: May 18, 2009
Legislature Approves Green Jobs Plan
Builds Clean, Renewable Energy Economy
The Sierra Club applauds the leadership of the Minnesota legislature on the passage of Senate File 657, which makes a $200 million down payment on the green economy. Governor Pawlenty should act quickly to get Minnesotans back to work.
"This investment in building our state's clean energy future will create thousands of new jobs for Minnesotans, combining environmental protection with economic growth," said Margaret Levin, State Director of the Sierra Club.
The bill makes use of federal economic stimulus dollars, which will be used for
- Energy efficiency retrofits for public buildings,
- Weatherization for low income families,
- Residential energy efficiency and outreach,
- Industrial energy efficiency, and
- Renewable energy projects, including ones for schools and local government.
Last year, Representative Jeremy Kalin and Senator Ellen Anderson co-chaired the Minnesota Green Jobs Task Force, which developed recommendations on growing Minnesota's Green Economy.
"The Sierra Club thanks Rep. Kalin and Sen. Anderson for their leadership, and urges Governor Pawlenty to act quickly to move Minnesota to more sustainable future, by creating good jobs that address global warming and protect our quality of life," said John Hottinger, Chair of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter.