For John Adler Green Equals Green

For Immediate Release Contact: Jeff Tittel
February 3, 2009 (609) 558-9100

For John Adler, Green = Green ADLER PRAISED FOR PRIORITIZING CLEAN ENERGY AND ECONOMY

Trenton, NJ: Sierra Club today praised Congressman John Adler (D-NJ) for his vote in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009-- a bill that recognizes the vital role clean energy can play in driving economic recovery. In supporting the bill, Adler is making an important down payment on solutions that will transform America's economy and lead to a clean energy future that will benefit generations to come.

"We thank John Adler for joining with President Obama in support of this bold plan for stimulating our struggling economy by investing in clean energy technologies and green jobs," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

A. Gregory Auriemma, Chair of the Sierra Club of Ocean County, also praised Adler. "In his campaign for Congress, John Adler promised to be an advocate for working families, a clean environment and energy independence. With this single vote, Congressman Adler has clearly demonstrated that he is truly committed to keeping all those promises," said Auriemma.

The package includes approximately $100 billion in direct spending and incentives for clean energy, the retrofitting of public buildings and public housing, low and moderate-income home weatherization, clean water and environmental restoration projects, energy efficiency, smart grid, and mass transit projects.

"This legislation will have a direct impact on Adler's constituents in the Third Congressional District by creating jobs and reducing energy costs," said Tittel. "Some of the monies could be used to bring rail service to Toms River, help seniors in Ocean and Burlington counties weatherize their homes, or create jobs through infrastructure investments."

Weatherizing buildings and installing renewable energy sources such as windmills and solar panels is a win-win for both the economy and the environment. "These projects will help lower greenhouse gases while at the same time benefiting the people by providing jobs," said Tittel, adding that for every $1 spent weatherizing a home, the owner saves $4. Making public buildings like schools more efficient would save taxpayers money on high energy bills.

Investing in public transit projects would improve the quality of life for Adler's constituents while at the same time creating jobs and reducing emissions. "We were thrilled that the House approved an amendment adding an additional $3 billion in funding for public transit," said Tittel. "With this amendment, the bill now invests over $14 billion in transit, creating thousands of new good jobs building critical green infrastructure."

The bill also includes monies to fix roads and bridges that are in need of repair. Improvements to the infrastructure in the Third Congressional District, such as bridges on I-295 in Burlington and Camden Counties, would be another avenue for job creation, said Tittel.

"John Adler led the fight in Trenton for good jobs that protect the environment and he is continuing that battle in Washington," said Tittel. "The House has now set a high bar and as this plan moves to the Senate, it is vitally important that we see even more of these kinds of improvements and that focus remains on investing in newer, cleaner, more efficient technology and not wasting money on costly, business-as-usual approaches like new coal plants or 'highways to nowhere."

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Grace Sica, Outreach Coordinator NJ Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover St. Trenton, NJ 08618 p: 609-656-7612 f: 609-656-7618

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