Green Jobs for the Steel City
Efforts to create green jobs, boost the economy, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and combat global warming are happening in Pittsburgh. On Tuesday, September 9th, the Blue-Green Alliance and partners including the Sierra Club, United Steelworkers, PennFuture and the League of Young Voters will be hosting Green Jobs for the Steel City. Come join us at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Local 400 hall on the Southside to learn about the work already underway and the challenges that lay ahead.
Sign-up to attend Green Jobs for the Steel City.
Right now, we have the tools, technology, and know-how today to solve two of our biggest challenges: global warming and a sliding economy. We know we can build a new clean energy economy for Pennsylvania that will create good jobs and help curb global warming. Now, we just need our leaders at every level to take action and invest in smart energy solutions – like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and hybrid vehicles – while fixing our trade policies. But in order to get our decision-makers to act, we need to demonstrate that Pennsylvanians support these solutions.
As part of our Green Jobs for America campaign, by talking to Pennsylvanians one-on-one, engaging a diverse coalition of labor, environmental, and community groups, rallies and tours, we're showing that these solutions are available right now, and that Pennsylvanians are demanding a new clean energy economy, built on renewable energy and American ingenuity.
Events
Attendees toured the PNC Firstside Center in Pittsburgh
On Friday, August 8, the Blue Green Alliance in Pittsburgh held its "Clean Energy and Global Solutions Tour". The tour kicked off with a press conference at 9:45am at the PNC Firstside Center featuring Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Tim Waters of the United Steelworkers, Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea, Building Trades Vice President Rich Stanizza and PNC Director of Corporate Real Estate Gary Paulson.
The tour continued to the LEED silver certified Firstside Center and a bus ride along a "Green Corridor" in Larimer featuring a GTECH bioenergy garden, Penn State University applied research and East Liberty Concerned Citizen's activities, as well as other groups.
Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea speaks with students on the tour
On August 2, Green Jobs for America and the Sierra Club sponsored a clean energy solutions tour in Philadelphia and Bucks County, Pennsylvania to highlight local action against global warming and dependence on foreign oil.
In Philadelphia, the tour kicked off at 10 a.m. at the Energy Coordinating Agency with City Councilmen At-Large William Greenlee and Bill Green. The tour then went to the Friends Center, the Cusano Environmental Education Center, Project NEAT, Philly Car Share, and to a Solar-Thermal Heating Demonstration.
In Bucks County, the tour began at 9 a.m. at Newtown Elementary School, and then went to Bucks County Community College-Bristol, Exelon-Epuron Solar Energy Center, and the Gamesa wind turbine manufacturing facility. Special guest speakers on the tour were County Commissioners Jim Cawley and Diane Marseglia, and State Rep. Tony Melio.
On Saturday, April 14, the Sierra Club and United Steelworkers union joined together as the PA Blue-Green Alliance for a "Rally on the River for Global Warming Solutions", and it was a huge success!
The event was held at the historic Homestead Steel Works Pump House, the only remaining building from the steel mill, which in its heyday employed 15,000 people, and was the site of the famous 1892 Battle of Homestead strike.
Right now, we have the tools, technology, and know-how today to solve two of our biggest challenges: global warming and a sliding economy. We know we can build a new clean energy economy for Pennsylvania that will create good jobs and help curb global warming. Now, we just need our leaders at every level to take action and invest in smart energy solutions – like renewable energy, energy efficiency, and hybrid vehicles – while fixing our trade policies. But in order to get our decision-makers to act, we need to demonstrate that Pennsylvanians support these solutions. 
