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	The United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club are pursuing a joint public policy agenda under the banner of Good Jobs, A Clean Environment, and A Safer World. NEWS: The Blue Green Alliance is working with The Renewable Energy Policy Project to document the state-by-state job-creating potential of a national Renewable Electricticy Standard. State brochures have been completed for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin. More detailed state reports are available for Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, California, and Pennsylvania. "Toxic Toys No More. USW Launches ‘Protect Our Kids’ Campaign," by Mike Hall, AFL-CIO Now blog, September 26, 2007. (Also, check out the United Steelworkers' campaign web site.) "Ritter Pushes Congress on Renewable Energy," by Christa Marshall, Denver Post, September 20, 2007. The Executive Director of the Blue Green Alliance, Dave Foster, told the House Select Committee on Renewable Energy and Global Warming that the Renewable Energy Standard bill would create 185,000 new jobs in the renewable energy industry, based on a study from the environmental group the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Man of Steel: Union Leader Leo Gerard Looks at Clean Energy and Sees Good Jobs," by Joan Hamilton, Sierra magazine, July/August 2007. "Promoting Clean Energy Gains Steam," by Adam Leach, Portsmouth, NH Herald News, July 22, 2007.
The Blue Green Alliance is "one of the most important initiatives undertaken by the environmental movement in decades,” said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. “Good jobs and a clean environment are important to American workers--we cannot have one without the other," said Leo W. Gerard, International President of USW. The Blue Green Alliance focuses on three key issues: Global Warming and Clean Energy; Fair Trade; and Reducing Toxics, including chemical security and "green chemistry." The Blue Green Alliance is concentrating efforts in five states: Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. Read more. MORE NEWS: "USW President Calls for Regulation of Emissions to Stem the Rising Tide of Global Warming," May 7, 2007. "Wind Energy Takes Flight on Iron Range," By Lee Bloomquist, Duluth News Tribune, April 20, 2007. "Tower Adopts Climate Agreement ," By Marshall Helmberger, Timberjay News (MN), April 13, 2007. "USW, Sierra Club Join Paper Trade Case to Support Fair Trade," March 12, 2007. "Area Mayors Agree to Act on Climate Change," by Marshall Helmberger, The Timberjay Newspapers (MN), March 2, 2007. "70-90 at Blue-Green Gathering; Some Mayors Sign National Pact ," by Charles Ramsey, The Mesabi (MN) Daily News, March 1, 2007. "Questions About DuPont Unsettle Town," by Anne Paine and Brad Schrade, The Nashville Tennessean, February 25, 2007. "Labor, Greens Denounce Trade Policy," by Steve Hersch, The Washington Times, February 14, 2007. "Water Safety Near DuPont Discussed," by John Reid Blackwell, The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch, February 14, 2007. "'Stars are Aligned' to Boost Renewable Energy," by Conrad Defiebre, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, January 16, 2007. Read the article. At a rally in Philadelphia November 3, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell stressed the need for homegrown renewable resources and pointed to the production of wind-turbine blades in Bucks County and Johnstown as a start. The governor described a partnership between the Steelworkers union and the Sierra Club as an unusual but important alliance. "Production of alternatives and renewables will drive the economy for the next 20 to 25 years and I want Pennsylvania to be the leader," Rendell said. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. This will better our environment." Read the Associated Press story. "Green-Energy Backers Endorse Blue Candidates," by Alison Grant, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 3, 2006. Read the article. "Twin Cities 'Green Manufacturing' Initiative Moves Forward," by Barb Kucera, Workday Minnesota, November 2, 2006. To read the article, click here. "Green Manufacturing Gets a Push," by Dee DePass, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 1, 2006. To read the article, click here. "Groups Tout Green Economy," by Dennis Lien, The St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 1, 2006. To read the article, click here. USW's International President Leo Gerard and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope spoke November 1 at a Ford truck plant that is being closed in Minnesota. They met with union members, environmental groups and government leaders to discuss "green" ways to reuse a Ford truck plant that is being closed. Ideas included building hybrid cars, and parts for renewable energy systems such as wind power and solar. To view video, click here. Vice President Al Gore gave a speech on global warming September 18 at New York University Law School that credited the United Steelworkers with helping to build momentum for solutions to this massive problem. To read coverage of the speech from Mother Jones magazine click here. ______________________________________________________ Join the Steelworkers! … no matter what you do or where you work. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. Click here to become an Associate Member! ______________________________________________________ Join the Sierra Club! ... and get involved today. Click here to sign up online now!