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On Thursday, April 22, 2010, the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, groups representing workers, industry, and environmental groups will be lobbying Senate offices, urging members to support policies that ensure American manufacturing capacity is used to meet the increasing demand for renewable energy production. They will be joined by clean energy manufacturing workers from across the country who contribute to the clean energy economy.

Billions of dollars are being invested to support the production of clean energy in the United States. However, Americans have been frustrated to learn that our efforts to create jobs here at home are often resulting in the creation of manufacturing jobs in China and elsewhere.

On April 19, 2010, Vice President Biden furthered this point, telling the Building Trades Legislative Conference, “To me, it’s a good thing if we get cleaner electricity from a windmill. But it’s only a great thing if our guys build the windmill.”

Without properly designed tax and investment incentives for clean energy generation, loan guarantees for nuclear reactor construction, and other federal supports, efforts to rejuvenate our manufacturing base could be unseated by subsidized imports from countries seeking to capitalize on new demand for clean energy products in the United States, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Said Scott Paul, Executive Director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), “Aggressive steps from Congress and the Obama Administration are needed to make sure that the U.S. becomes the world leader in clean energy manufacturing. The opportunities for American manufacturers and workers are great, but the challenges are significant. If not addressed properly, the U.S. will replace dependence on foreign oil with dependence on imported renewable goods from China and other competitors.”

As Congress debates energy policy and ways to address climate change, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) urges Congress to support Buy America domestic content requirements, increased access to capital for plant re-tooling, and the important 48c manufacturing tax credit for clean energy equipment.

To learn more, click here for a fact sheet on clean energy manufacturing prepared by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), United Steelworkers (USW), Blue-Green Alliance (BGA).

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