Letters sent to Congressman Tom Perriello (D-5th Dist.) from at least six Charlottesville-based minority groups opposing the American Clean Energy and Security Act were forged, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported today. Congressman Perriello, a freshman Congressman from the Charlottesville area was considered a swing vote on the legislation. It is unclear whether other Congressmen received similar fake letters.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2009

–Copies of letters available at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/blog–
Coal Lobbyists Stooped to New Lows in Effort to Kill Clean Energy Bill
Opponents of the American Clean Energy and Security Act Sent Forged Letters to At Least One Va. Congressman

July 31, 2009-Letters sent to Congressman Tom Perriello (D-5th Dist.) from at least six Charlottesville-based minority groups opposing the American Clean Energy and Security Act were forged, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported today. Congressman Perriello, a freshman Congressman from the Charlottesville area was considered a swing vote on the legislation. It is unclear whether other Congressmen received similar fake letters.

“Opponents stooped to new lows in their efforts to kill this important piece of legislation,” said Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, which worked to educate Virginians about the importance of the bill. “We applaud Congressman Perriello for standing up to the naysayers, both real and fake, and bringing clean energy jobs to the Commonwealth.”

The letters were sent by the Washington lobbying firm Bonner & Associates, which has lobbied on behalf of utility companies in the past. The firm did not register to lobby on behalf of any company or organization against the cap-and-trade bill.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives 219-212 in June, would put a cap on emissions of global warming pollution and invest money into the renewable energy and efficiency sectors.

According to the Center for American Progress, a $150 billion clean energy investment across the country would bring 45,000 jobs to Virginia and about $3.9 billion in investments, reducing unemployment by 1.1 percent.

The clean energy economy is beginning to flourish in Virginia, with renewable energy and energy efficiency projects popping up throughout the state, even while Virginia suffers record job losses in other sectors. Jobs in the Virginia clean energy sector grew 6% between 1998 and 2007.

“The growth of the clean energy industry is promising, but there’s a lot more room for growth,” continued Tidwell. “We hope other Virginia leaders follow Congressman Perriello’s lead in standing up for clean energy.”

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