FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       
WEDNESDAY  MARCH 26th 2008   

Contact: David Willett, 202-675-6698

Sierra Club to Candidates:  “You Have the Power2Change”
New Campaign/ report outlines Clean Energy Solutions and the 2008 Elections

Washington, DC:  The Sierra Club today launched a new effort to educate the public about what is at stake in the 2008 elections. Focused on nine states, the Power2Change campaign aims to educate the public and candidates about what is at stake in the elections by defining the contrast between competing visions of our energy future--positioning clean energy as an economic driver, and challenging candidates up and down the ballot including the new President - to move America towards a clean energy economy.

The nine states are Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin. The Sierra Club’s Power 2 Change Report highlights examples of clean energy leaders—public officials, businesses and individuals; and their opponents--backwards thinking polluters with a specific section focusing on each state.  The full report is available here

“The choices we make in 2008 will define our future, especially when it comes to the election and energy issues,” said Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club National Political Director.  “The contrast could not be sharper -- we can move forward to a clean energy economy that creates jobs, save consumers money and solves global warming, or we can continue the expensive, polluting policies of the past.”

The million-dollar five week Power2Change campaign involves a new grassroots organizing effort in these communities, with approximately fifty new organizers hired for the project. Over the next five weeks, Sierra Club activists will document and release examples of clean and polluting energy sites within each state, collect and deliver petition signatures demanding elected officials help build a clean energy economy, and recruit volunteers to meet with elected, business and community leaders and to participate in Earth Day events on or around April 22.

“We’ve got a message for candidates at every level that we have the power to change direction,” said Duvall.  “We have the technology, know-how and power to build a clean energy future. What we have lacked is the political will and leadership. We need to challenge all our elected officials, including the next President, to provide the leadership we need to move us forward.”

More information about the new campaign

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