Earth Day St. Louis clean energy rally
A group of clean energy supporters is rallying Thursday morning outside U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s district office in St. Louis to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
The gathering of about 20 people at McCaskill’s office on Delmar Boulevard is sponsored by Repower Missouri, a clean energy advocacy umbrella group. Group officials highlighted the importance of clean energy jobs to the Missouri economy.
Vanessa Crawford, state director for the Alliance for Climate Protection, a group working with Repower Missouri, said the group was dropping off about 2,000 letters from eastern Missouri residents in support of new clean energy legislation..
A similar gathering was planned for McCaskill’s office in Kansas City. Group members also briefly waved signs out in front of McCaskill’s office.
Crawford said they want McCaskill to be more supportive of comprehensive federal legislation that may stimulate clean energy and green businesses. The legislation could mean as many as 29,000 new jobs in Missouri, she said.
The jobs can involve building wind power and solar energy devices and would include manufacturing and construction trades. The legislation would not only help clean up the environment and reduce dependence or foreign sources of energy, it would create jobs, they said.
“With proper investment in those industries and technologies it could be huge,” Crawford said.
Ed Smith, climate change coordinator for the Missouri Votes Conservation Education Fund, another group involved with Repower Missouri, said green businesses are already flourishing. “Green business has been steadily going up while a lot of other sectors have been going down,” he said.
“On this 40th Earth Day celebration, I am proud to join the clean energy revolution,” said LaDonna Appelbaum, a St. Louis small business owner.
“Comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation can put Missourians back to work and help end our addiction to foreign oil,” she said.
“Even more importantly on this day, though, strong legislation will begin to solve the climate crisis that is threatening our planet.”
Meanwhile, even through Thursday is officially Earth Day, the local celebration for the event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, April 25, on Muny grounds in Forest Park.
The event will feature two stages of live music, cultural performances, local food and hands-on activities for the whole family. More than 275 eco-artists, educational exhibitors, food vendors, businesses and organizations will participate.
-Brian Flinchpaugh
