Statement: Rebutting Romney's Green Economy Claims

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  Following the presidential debate Wednesday night during which Governor Mitt Romney criticized the green investments of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) union Leo W. Gerard, Co-Chairs of the BlueGreen Alliance, issued the following statement:

"At a time when we cannot take any jobs for granted, Governor Romney's distortions about America's green economy are unproductive in moving the economy forward. Investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act successfully created or sustained good, middle class jobs across the country and also worked to keep our environment cleaner. The green investments in the Recovery Act alone sustained or created nearly one million jobs.

"Supporting the middle class and economic growth means supporting the good jobs that are already improving energy efficiency, strengthening American manufacturing and moving our country to cleaner energy sources. All of which have created good jobs, reduced pollution and ensured that America can compete with China, Europe and the rest of the world for the good jobs clean energy will provide.

"We cannot discount the good, green job investments that are already working today, nor the impact that a revitalized, more fuel-efficient auto industry is having and will continue to have on our nation. Governor Romney shouldn't either."

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental organizations and unites more than 15 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.

CONTACTS:
Erin Bzymek, 202-706-6916,
[email protected]

SOURCE BlueGreen Alliance