Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins: Obama must strengthen green jobs provisions of #climatebill

by Emily Gertz · 2009-06-02 17:50:00 UTC
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Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, the CEO of green economy-environmental justice group Green for All, was on MSNBC's Morning Joe show yesterday, speaking on how the Obama administration needs to strengthen the provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act to spur green manufacturing jobs:

"Will we be a country that imports batteries from China, and oil from the Middle East?  Or will be be a country that creates our own energy?  You know, China is spending $12 million an hour to figure out how to become energy independent.  This bill will allow us to do that.

"Now, We'd like to see it strengthened, so it provides real protection for jobs and creates manufacturing in the United States.  But we think it's a positive step forward...

"This really is about what kind of economy we want to be.  And it's sad that it's been a fight just about global warming, instead of, 'Will we become energy independent?' 'Will we really cultivate industries that can bring this economy back, and bring manufacturing back to this country?'

"We really hope that's the debate that we have."

Watch the whole thing, as the chatty group -- including NBC eminence grise Tom Brokaw -- delves into the missteps of the US auto industry in resisting energy efficient cars, how Gen Y has green in its genes, why clean power industries can revive our economy, and more.

Emily Gertz
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