CLIMATE POWER ON THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN: CONGRESS MUST GO BIG, BE BOLD, AND ACT QUICKLY
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Washington, D.C. – Today, President Biden traveled to Pittsburgh, a model for how investments in clean energy can create a new era of jobs and prosperity, to announce his once-in-a-century American Jobs Plan that will invest trillions of dollars in clean energy, infrastructure, and other areas that will fuel our economic recovery and create millions of new jobs.
“President Biden’s American Jobs Plan is what voters want and what the climate and our economy demands,” said Climate Power executive director Lori Lodes. “Congress needs to go big, be bold, and act fast. It’s time to get this done, create millions of new good-paying union jobs, combat the climate crisis, and build back better with the infrastructure we need for jobs today and competitiveness tomorrow. America can’t wait; let’s get to work.”
As part of the $10+ million Great American Build campaign, Climate Power has launched a new $2 million national television ad campaign to press for big, bold, and transformational investments in clean energy and infrastructure. The first spot to air nationally is “Calling All Builders,” which has already been airing in the D.C.-area. In addition, the Great American Build has also launched outdoor advertising in Washington, D.C. and will soon be announcing a new digital advertising campaign in key states.
Earlier this week, Climate Power advisory board member John Podesta released a memo calling on Congress to go big, bold, and quickly on clean energy and infrastructure investments, just as President Biden proposed today:
The scale and scope of these investments is what voters want and what our economy and our climate demand. Congress must now act without delay and invest in jobs, clean energy – and the American people. […]
Investing in clean energy and infrastructure is the best, fastest, and most effective way to put people to work and address the climate crisis. Clean energy is the fastest growing industry in America and, with the right policies, provides a huge opportunity to build back better with high-quality, union jobs that help rebuild the middle class. Before the pandemic hit, clean energy jobs employed nearly 3.4 million workers in the U.S., three times as many workers as employed by the fossil fuel industry.
We also have no time to waste when it comes to the climate crisis. This is our climate moment. The science is unforgiving and the window to act is narrowing. If we don’t immediately take advantage of the political and economic opportunities before us, we may never have another chance.
New polling from Data for Progress in partnership with Climate Power released earlier this week found overwhelming public demand for big, bold, and equitable investments in clean energy and infrastructure:
- Over two-thirds of voters (67 percent) say the federal government should be doing more to modernize American infrastructure;
- Over three-quarters of voters (77 percent) say Congress should be doing more to help America fully recover from the pandemic;
- A majority of voters (73 percent) say it is time for Congress to make a long-overdue investment in American infrastructure;
- A supermajority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans all support President Biden’s Build Back Better plan;
- Over two-thirds of voters (70 percent) are more likely to support the Build Back Better plan if it includes provisions to prioritize oil and gas workers for new clean energy jobs that have fair labor standards and the opportunity to unionize;
- A majority of voters (63 percent) are more likely to support the Build Back Better plan if 40% of investments go to low-income communities, communities of color, and other disadvantaged communities; and
- Over two-thirds of voters (68 percent) agree ambitious investments will make our nation stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable than ever before.
The Great American Build kicked off earlier this month with the backing of climate and environmental organizations, racial justice organizations, organized labor, progressive groups, and leaders from across the country, including Governors Gretchen Whitmer, Steve Sisolak, Tony Evers, and Michelle Lujan Grisham.