Contact: Ed Potosnak
O: (609) 331-9922
C: (732) 991-7574
NEW JERSEY LCV APPLAUDS GOVERNOR MURPHY AND OVER A THOUSAND ELECTED LEADERS SUPPORTING A BOLD AMERICA JOBS PLAN
Trenton – The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters applauds Governor Murphy and the many other state and local leaders from across the country who are calling on Congress to pass an economic recovery plan centered around clean energy, climate, justice, and good-paying union jobs.
In a letter organized by the League of Conservation Voters and Climate Power, 1,266 signers representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. asked Congressional leaders today to “seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help our communities recover by creating and sustaining millions of good paying jobs, putting us on the path to 100% clean energy, and building a more equitable and just society. New Jersey had over 30 signers, including Governor Phil Murphy.
“It’s amazing to see New Jersey’s whirlwind of successes under Governor Murphy setting the tone for bold, national climate action. Everything we’ve been working toward over the past four years is coming to fruition, and it’s clear that New Jersey’s leadership is a catalyst to help set this stage,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey LCV. “New Jersey’s support for a bold economic recovery plan that centers on workers, justice, and climate action is significant, with local elected champions up and down our state calling on Congress to act.”
The letter calls on Congress to focus an infrastructure plan on three major principles, all outlined in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan:
● Put the U.S. on the path to 100% clean energy, powering everything from our electricity grid, transportation, and buildings with reliable, affordable clean energy.
● Promote equity by ensuring at least 40% of benefits go to the communities who need it most, prioritizing just and equitable solutions being led by low income and communities of color most harmed by toxic pollution and climate change.
● Incentivize high-quality, good-paying union jobs, especially in the domestic clean energy and manufacturing sectors, while supporting communities historically reliant on oil, gas, and coal jobs.
“A clean energy economy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and achieving that goal requires a robust and equitable green jobs workforce development strategy,” added Potosnak. “The Biden Administration knows it; the Murphy Administration knows it – we cannot miss this opportunity.”
The American Jobs Plan has strong bipartisan support -- 70 percent of all voters support the proposal after hearing details of the plan. Specific environmental and infrastructure policies in the plan, including investing in modernizing our outdated and dangerous electrical grid and expanding rural broadband are overwhelmingly popular. More than 80 percent of voters support eliminating all lead pipes in our drinking water systems, and 70 percent of all voters support investing in clean energy generation and storage, like solar panels and wind.
New Jersey LCV urges Congress to support the Biden-Harris infrastructure plan so states like New Jersey can start our post-COVID economic recovery and put New Jerseyans who have suffered back to work.