The Alliance is a diverse coalition of labor unions, environmentalists, communities of color, people of faith, businesses, health groups, and many more.
Our goal is to pass a policy to tackle climate change and embolden the clean energy economy. Since the summer, we’ve deepened the campaign’s roots across Washington. To date, we’ve held 18 campaign kickoff events in communities from Anacortes to Vancouver and Spokane to Seattle.
Recently I attended a kickoff event in Olympia. The program included special guest Governor Inslee. He shared a heart-warming story of a volunteer collecting over 2,000 signatures to qualify I-937, Washington’s clean electricity standard, for the ballot in 2006. A Washington Federation of State Employees union member spoke passionately about her public-sector work to protect our air and water. Alliance steering committee member Rosalinda Guillen of Community to Community reminded us how increased heat impacts the lives of farmworkers on the frontlines of climate change. An International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union leader touted the benefits of creating family-wage jobs by harnessing Washington’s wind, solar, and landfill gas energy resources. Hearing those speakers and sharing the energy of the 150 others in attendance, I came away inspired.
Despite the turbulent storms we face on many fronts, political and physical, we have so many reasons to be optimistic. That night in Olympia, 97 people signed up to volunteer, and every day brings us closer to passing effective and equitable climate policy for our state. The Alliance is bridging divides to protect our planet and to improve the lives of all Washingtonians in real, immediate ways. Sign up for Alliance alerts at jobscleanergywa.com and join the rising movement!
