RELEASE: 'Jobs for Main Street Act' includes many SEEC priorities for job creation; Coalition vows further work to create American clean energy jobs

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2847, the Jobs for Main Street Act, containing many priorities of the Congressional Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC). SEEC leaders said that their group will continue to advance proposals aimed at a meaningful American economic recovery.

SEEC lauded the inclusion in H.R. 2847 of funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment, transit, water infrastructure and natural resources projects, and green jobs worker training programs- which will create jobs quickly and grow successful and promising sectors of the American economy. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY)- SEEC’s co-chairs- said that their coalition has been working diligently on proposals to spur job creation, and will continue to develop and advocate for these priorities.

They indicated that H.R. 2847 is a step in the right direction, and they hope that both congressional chambers will continue to work on policies for domestic job creation when they reconvene in 2010.

“We need jobs now and this legislation helps to do just that,” said Inslee. “SEEC is proud that Congress has adopted many of our recommendations and we look forward to continuing our work with leadership to ensure we create more jobs and take the lead in the new energy economy.”

“Investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency will pay dividends in the form of good, high-paying jobs. Not only will these investments cut our dependence on foreign oil and save Americans money, they will also create new careers for American workers. I’m thrilled that that the Jobs for Main Street Act includes new investments in clean energy. Additionally, this bill will allow the Department of Energy loan guarantee program to be applied toward energy efficiency – which will help expand Property Assessed Clean Energy bond programs across the country,” said Israel.

Last Friday, thirty-eight members of SEEC sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging them to consider policies for job creation through investments and incentives for clean energy and efficiency, funding for infrastructure and resources projects, and increased worker training. Several proposals that they presented were included in H.R. 2847. Specifically, the legislation:

• Reinstates $2 billion to the Department of Energy Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (taken in July, 2009 to fund the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Program), makes administrative improvements to expedite awarding of funding, and allows for energy efficiency projects to qualify for these awards.
• Includes $275 million for Green Jobs Grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency worker training programs.
• Provides $6.15 billion for public transit capital assistance grants to create jobs in needed transit projects. $100 million of this funding to be provided to the TIGGER program for transportation projects that reduce energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Allows for state and local transit systems to use funding for operation of equipment and facilities, which transit systems have indicated is a necessity for sustaining their operations and jobs at a time when transit ridership is at record highs.
• Includes $2 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to quickly create jobs and fund essential water infrastructure projects in communities around the country.
• Provides funding for Departments of Interior and Agriculture agencies to create jobs quickly and begin to address their significant backlog of resources needs. ($20 million for the Bureau of Land Management, $30 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, $150 million for the Forest Service).

“I applaud what our coalition was able to accomplish with this bill, and I look forward to continuing our work to create sustainable American jobs,” said SEEC vice chair Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), who was acknowledged yesterday by President Obama for his advocacy of energy efficiency retrofits to create jobs and save energy costs.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) also a vice chair for the coalition said that “We must make bold investments in the clean energy economy today. I applaud the efforts of SEEC and am proud to support this critical step in putting American families back to work.”