Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on President Obamas Remarks on Energy

June 16, 2010

Last night, we were encouraged by the Presidents reassurance of an aggressive restoration of the Gulf and accountability for BP but even more by his call for new, clean energy investments in America’s future.  The transformation to a new energy economy must be at the heart of plans for economic growth and good job creation, here in the United States and around the world. 

Even during our economic challenges--especially during our economic challenges--we must move forward to the green energy future our children and grandchildren need. 

We need to retrofit commercial, industrial and residential buildings; develop and manufacture technologies to clean our water; invest in carbon capture and sequestration technology; create modern transportation systems that relieve congestion; invest in domestic wind and solar capacity; build the nuclear plants that are a bridge to the low carbon future; and cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.   Perhaps most of all, we need to build the smart grid that is the key to our future.  And in every aspect of this work we must make developing a domestic supply chain in clean energy technology a national priority if we don’t make it here, it won’t create jobs here. 

We cannot have sustainable, good jobs in America unless we become world leaders in the technologies of the future.  We know we can do it because we have already started, beginning with the President’s economic recovery package.  And states like Illinois, Ohio and Michigan are developing new technologies--and the good jobs that come with them--like advanced batteries, hybrid energy systems and fuel cells. 

We look forward to working with the president to expand our national vision when it comes to energy, and acting on it.

###