Tell the PUC: Implement the law, Create clean energy jobs

Implementing & Expanding a 2005 Clean Energy Law Will Create Over 21,500 New Jobs ¹    

For just over four weeks, the Texas BlueGreen Apollo Alliance has stood proudly with consumer advocates, community organizations, farmers' associations, organized labor and environmental groups to support the Clean Energy Works for Texas Campaign, a program supporting the next generation of high-skilled clean energy jobs. But unelected appointees at the Public Utilities Commission are doing everything they can to muddle this vision of middle-class green jobs of the future.

Join the Clean Energy Works for Texas campaign — support the petition to bring enough clean energy to power 1.2 million homes and create thousands of new manufacturing, construction, and installation jobs for Texans.

A rulemaking petition filed under Project #40740, if adopted, would implement a mandatory 500-megawatt non-wind Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2015 and expand that to 3000 megawatts by 2025. When implemented, the rule will lead to the construction of more solar and geothermal power plants across the state, meaning more jobs for electricians, operating engineers, laborers, and other skilled tradesmen and women.

Texas needs to move faster, and this plan would accelerate the march to good jobs.

Tell the PUC you want a 21st century economy that embraces clean energy and puts Texans back to work in high-wage, family-supporting jobs.

The PUC has sat for over 7 years on a proposal to bring at least 500 megawatts of solar or geothermal energy to Texas, even though the Legislature and Governor Perry passed a law in 2005 mandating more clean energy. It's time for them to move Texas forward with job-creating, clean energy solutions to keep our lights on and help make Texas energy independent.

The PUC's decision-making has yet to involve the voices of working families and everyday folks like you. Instead, the process has been dominated by high-paid industry lobbyists who would rather block a path forward for Texas' clean energy workforce.

That's where you can make a difference. Stand up against insider lobbying. Tell the PUC to support clean energy jobs in Texas.

While we have much work to do to make sure these new green jobs are good, union jobs that create pathways out of poverty across Texas, we must first raise our voices to pressure the PUC to use their power to create a market for those jobs.

In solidarity,

Dave Cortez
Texas BlueGreen Apollo Alliance
davec (at) bluegreenalliance.org