BLU REEN 

A L L A N C E 

Testimony of Michael Williams, Senior Policy and Legislative Advocate, 

BlueGreen Alliance 

May 24,2012 

Good afternoon. My name is Mike Williams. I work for the BlueGreen Alliance as a 

Senior Policy and Legislative Advocate, and have the privilege to help manage their 

climate and energy work. I am here today to convey the BlueGreen Alliance's support 

for the proposed Carbon Pollution Standard, and to express our strong desire for a 

comprehensive solution to addressing climate change. 

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental 

organizations. Founded in 2006 by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, and 

since expanded to now include four of the largest environmental organizations in the 

country and eight diverse and prominent labor unions. All told, the membership of 

BGA' s partners represents the interests of over 14 million people across North 

America. 

One of the main principles BGA was founded on was the dire need to address climate 

change. That through addressing climate change, America can build a lasting, 

sustainable economy that provides high quality employment, and helps rebuild the 

middle class. 

As the Dean of the House, Congressman John Dingell, recently said, "We can't afford 

to have an economy in which some jobs work for the future. We need an economy in 

which they all do." It is a basic principle- that workers throughout every industry 

play a vital role in the 21st century, climate-conscious economy. We will achieve this 

only by reimagining, refocusing, and rebuilding our current economy. 

The labor and environmental partners of our Alliance strongly advocated for a 

comprehensive approach to America's energy and climate policy, matching mandated 

reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with an investment portfolio meant to spur 

innovation across the many sectors of the 21 51 century clean economy, and enhance 

competitiveness within the traditional sectors. 
Regretfully, we failed to implement this approach. Not just Congress, we all failed. 

We must not use this as an excuse to tum our backs from what currently can and must 

be done. Nor can we use this as an excuse to tum our backs on fiercely advocating for 

a comprehensive solution. 

The Carbon Pollution Standard fits well within the realm of what must be done. This 

proposed rule comes out of a long process that includes a mandate :from the Supreme 

Court and an endangerment finding from the scientists at the EPA. 

The standard will apply to future power plants, limiting the emissions of greenhouse 

gases to a standard on par with a natural gas combined cycle generation or a coal-tired 

plant equipped with carbon capture and storage. It will apply only to large power 

plants, and allows for projects that will begin construction within one year to forgo 

compliance. 

This is a reasonable first step towards addressing climate change. The standard does 

not affect existing power generation, but it will ensure that long-term investments in 

energy infrastructure reflect the reality of climate change, driving investment in clean 

energy, which we believe will make America more competitive, more energy 

independent, and will create many good jobs. 

This is a reasonable and necessary first step, but there is much more that needs to be 

done. The BlueGreen Alliance believes that in the absence of a comprehensive climate 

and clean energy policy, Congress should enact the following policies to complement 

the Carbon Pollution Standard and ensure that our country fully realizes the jobretention and job-creating benefits of the clean energy economy: 

l. Create clear market signals for clean energy deployment. Congress should 

pass legislation that sets specific targets for clean energy generation that 

expands renewable resources and the implementation of a federal Energy 

Efficiency Resource Standard. 

2. Address global competitiveness. Congress should adopt measures to prevent 

possible "carbon leakage" and promote the global competitiveness of energyintensive industries. Such policies could include a border-adjustment measure 

to ensure a level playing field. 

3. Invest in cleaner, more advanced power generation. Congress should 

provide direct assistance for advancements in and rapid deployment of 

technology that will clean up and improve the efficiency of power generation to 

help insure the continuation of highly skilled and living wage jobs. 
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4. Provide a proper transition for workers and communities. Congress, states, 

localities and utilities should ensure that workers and communities affected by 

the transition to cleaner energy sources are provided with necessary assistance. 

5. Guarantee access to capital markets for energy-intensive industries. Tight 

capital markets and limited borrowing capacity continue to threaten the viability 

of some companies. Congress should provide loan guarantees, tax credits, 

grants, and other forms of assistance for American industry to make 

investments to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. 

6. Rebuild American manufacturing and infrastructure. A vibrant clean 

energy economy requires that America retool it's manufacturing base and 

renew its infrastructure investments. It is imperative that Congress develops a 

true industrial policy, and also passes a long-term, robust surface transportation 

bill. 

Pollution is, quite simply, a form of waste and a sign of inefficiency. Over and over 

again the environmental safeguards of the last 40 years have resulted in waste 

reduction, energy efficiency, and greater economic competitiveness- creating 

thousands ofnewjobs and making existingjobs more secure. 

In a global economy, where our international competitors are leading in the 

development of clean energy technologies and deployment, retreating from this basic 

understanding is tantamount to surrendering our economic future. Air pollution of all 

sorts also puts a tremendous drag on our economic recovery, from increased health 

care expenses to the costs of adapting to changed weather patterns. 

Thus, although the BlueGreen Alliance believes that Congress ultimately should pass 

comprehensive climate and clean energy jobs legislation, the dangers presented by 

climate change and the potential for jobs lost as a result of inaction- leaving us 

further behind in the global clean energy market- are too great to delay any further 

the process of cutting U.S. carbon pollution under the existing law. 

Finally, all too often people are offered a false choice between having good jobs or a 

clean environment. The truth is we don't have to choose between jobs and the 

environment; we can and must have both.