"Today's report that the price of oil has reached $100 a barrel is just another example of how corporate greed is squeezing the middle class. This increase shows the urgency of taking on the big oil companies so we can build a new energy economy and transition away from oil to other affordable sources of energy.

"And in the short term, we must take immediate steps to help families struggling with unaffordable home heating costs this winter. I have called on President Bush to release oil from the strategic petroleum reserve and fully fund LIHEAP to help families with the increased cost of oil.

"America's dependence on oil not only leaves families vulnerable to rising prices, but it compromises our national security and contributes to the crisis of global warming. It's time for us to rise up and take on the corporate greed that is taking over our democracy so we can leave a better America to our children."

Manchester, NH – Today, Senator John Edwards unveiled his proposals to take on big oil companies to fight rising home heating costs. At town hall meetings in Meredith and Rochester today, Edwards announced his plan to provide immediate relief for families facing unaffordable home heating costs and highlighted his proposals for taking on big oil and gas companies to halt global warming and build a new energy economy based on efficiency and renewable energy. As he prepares to visit New Horizons food bank in Manchester tomorrow, Edwards also emphasized the power that everyday Americans have to help families in their communities overcome the hardship of high home heating costs.

"New England families are facing skyrocketing home heating oil and gasoline prices – all to fuel massive profits for Big Oil," said Edwards. "As home heating oil prices are approaching a record-high, today families in New Hampshire are paying nearly three times as much as they did in 2000 for heating oil. Meanwhile, the top six oil companies have collected over $477 billion in profits over the past six years. Exxon Mobil, for example, earned $40 billion last year, the largest annual corporate profit in history.

"America's dependence on oil not only leaves families vulnerable to rising prices, but it compromises our national security and contributes to the crisis of global warming. We need to stand up to the big oil companies, increase the use of renewable energy, and create affordable choices for regular families."

Edwards believes immediate action is necessary to offer families relief from rising heating costs. Today, he called on Congress to release some of the nation's home heating and oil reserves and finally fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which could help 20,000 more New Hampshire families. He also proposed more than doubling assistance for weatherization programs and called on neighbors to help weatherize the homes of vulnerable seniors this winter. Last winter, Edwards joined One Corps volunteers from across the country to help weatherize seniors' homes in the Northeast. Finally, he proposed helping states and non-profits offer low- or no-interest emergency loans so that squeezed families do not fall prey to high-cost lenders.

While in the short-term Washington should get families they help they need to meet rising costs, Edwards will also stand up to the oil and gas industry to bring down unreasonable prices. As president, he will investigate the anticompetitive actions of the oil industry; strengthen antitrust laws to make oil and gas companies liable for anticompetitive acts; reverse Enron-era deregulation of energy markets to restore transparency and oversight; end taxpayer subsidies for oil companies; and require oil companies to invest in clean reliable refineries.

To jumpstart our investment in the future and promote higher fuel efficiency, Edwards will create the $13 billion-a-year New Energy Economy Fund, financed by the sale of greenhouse gas pollution permits and the repeal of subsidies for oil companies. Among other investments, the Fund will: invest in weatherized homes and more efficient buildings and appliances; create new competition by supporting biofuels; and raise fuel economy standards and help U.S. automakers modernize.

For more information on Edwards plan, please see the "Taking on the Big Oil Companies to Fight Rising Home Heating Costs" paper attached below.

Helping Families with Rising Home Heating Costs

"American families are facing skyrocketing home heating oil and gasoline prices, while big oil companies earn massive profits. We need to stand up to the oil companies, increase the use of renewable energy, and create affordable choices for regular families." – John Edwards

America's reliance on oil leaves families vulnerable to rising prices, contributes to the crisis of global warming, and undermines our national security. Crude oil and home heating oil prices are now near an all-time record high. Families in New Hampshire are paying more than $3.00 a gallon for heating oil, up from $1.11 in 2000. Meanwhile, the top six oil companies have collected over $477 billion in profits over the past six years. Exxon Mobil earned $40 billion last year, the largest annual corporate profit in history. [EIA, 2007; EPI, 2007]

John Edwards has championed the need to take on big oil and gas companies to halt global warming and build a new energy economy based on efficiency and renewable energy. Today, Edwards announced his plan to provide immediate relief for families facing unaffordable home heating costs. He called on Congress to release some of the nation's home heating and oil reserves to bring down prices and finally fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which could help more than 3 million more families, including 20,000 in New Hampshire. He also proposed more than doubling assistance for weatherization programs and called on neighbors to help weatherize the homes of vulnerable seniors this winter. Finally, he proposed helping states and non-profits offer low- or no-interest emergency loans so that squeezed families do not fall prey to high-cost lenders.

Immediate Relief for Families Facing Rising Heating Costs

John Edwards believes immediate action is necessary to offer families relief from rising heating costs. Today, he called on President Bush, Congress, and state leaders to:

Release Supply from National Oil Reserves

The U.S. government holds 700 million barrels of crude oil and 2 million barrels of home heating oil in reserve to protect consumers. However, even though the price of oil passed $99 a barrel last Wednesday, President Bush has no plans to release oil from these reserves. The reserves were used during the first Iraq War in 1991, during a period of low inventory in 2000, and after Katrina in 2005. Edwards called on Bush to release a portion of both the home heating oil and crude oil reserves. Releasing oil would bring down prices by increasing supply and by demonstrating a willingness to keep oil prices from rising indefinitely. [EIA, 2007; AP, 11/21/2007; Boston Globe, 11/3/2007]

Fully Fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The families who receive fuel assistance are typically parents of young children, seniors and people with disabilities. They spend 15 percent of their incomes on home energy alone. President Bush has proposed cutting the program by nearly half. Today, Edwards called on Congress to finally fully fund LIHEAP to serve more than 3 million more Americans, including more than 20,000 from New Hampshire. [NEADA, 2007]

Weatherize Thousands of Homes

Weatherization can cut home heating costs by 23 percent, but only about one out of every eight eligible New Hampshire families who applied received weatherization help in 2005. As part of his plan to help regular families conserve energy, Edwards will reverse the Bush cuts to the weatherization program and instead double the budget to $500 million a year. He has also called on neighbors and volunteers to help families, particularly seniors, weatherize their homes – as he and One Corps volunteers did last winter. [NH OEP, 2007]

Support Emergency Loans for Families

Half of families report that they live paycheck to paycheck so big jumps in utility bills can leave families with few options. Edwards believes that families shouldn't have to turn to high-interest credit cards or payday loans shops to pay their heating bills. He proposed helping non-profits and states administer low- or no-interest emergency loans as alternatives to high-cost credit.

Standing Up to the Oil and Gas Industry to Bring Down Prices

After getting families the help they need now, John Edwards will stand up to the oil and gas industry to bring down unreasonable prices. As president, he will:

Investigate the Anticompetitive Actions of the Oil Industry

A wave of mergers in recent decades has led to a consolidated oil industry as 21 companies have combined into eight. Vertically integrated companies like Exxon Mobil own every step of the production process – from extraction to refining to sale at the pump – enabling them to foreclose competition. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the chair of the Federal Trade Commission are all former oil industry insiders. Edwards will ask the Justice Department to investigate the consolidation of the oil industry, the causes of higher petroleum prices, and solutions to the problem. [GAO, 2004, 2007; Kimmelman, Plunkett, Mierzwinski, 2004; Slocum, 2001]

Strengthen Antitrust Laws

In 2001, the FTC found evidence of oil companies intentionally withholding supply to raise prices, but could not prosecute this anticompetitive activity because there was no evidence of an agreement among rivals. Edwards called on Congress to modernize the Clayton Antitrust Act to make oil and gas companies liable for unilateral anticompetitive acts – such as withholding supply in order to raise prices – even without an agreement. [FTC, 2001]

Reverse Enron-Era Deregulation of Energy Markets

Oil giant BP was fined $300 million for manipulating the propane futures market in 2004. Since the deregulation of the commodity futures trading market in 2000, oil markets have been vulnerable to manipulation and speculation. Edwards will restore basic transparency and oversight, such as requiring public reporting of large trades, to help identify and deter market manipulation. [U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, 2004; CFTC, 2007; N.Y. Times, 10/24/2007]

Cut "Carbon Welfare" for Oil Companies

The oil industry – which has written our nation's energy policy for years – receives $2 billion a year in tax breaks for drilling they would undertake anyway. It also collects $1 billion a year in sweetheart oil leases in public waters. Edwards will repeal these subsidies and reinvest the savings in affordable, clean, and renewable energy.

Require Oil Companies to Invest in Clean, Reliable Refineries

Oil refining profits are up 158 percent since 1999, but overloaded refineries running at nearly 90 percent capacity have left the gasoline supply vulnerable to disruptions and price spikes. New investments to reduce harmful emissions can also increase productivity, safety, and reliability. Edwards called on states to enforce Clean Air Act standards to require oil companies to modernize their refineries, making them cleaner and more reliable. [Slocum, 2007; Newsday, 5/7/07; N.Y. Times, 1/17/2007; GAO, 2007; EPA, 2006]

Building a New Energy Economy with Renewable Fuels and Energy Efficiency

America's rising demand for fossil fuels and carbon-based electricity raises prices, forces it to rely on unstable and hostile countries and contributes to the crisis of global warming. John Edwards' plan to promote higher fuel efficiency and freeze our electricity use at today's levels for a decade will lower demand. Edwards believes that we can cut oil imports by 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025 – nearly a third of the oil projected to be used in 2025 – and get us on a path to be virtually petroleum-free within a generation.

To jumpstart our investment in the future, Edwards will create the $13 billion-a-year New Energy Economy Fund, financed by the sale of greenhouse gas pollution permits and the repeal of subsidies for oil companies. Among other investments, the Fund will:

Invest in Weatherized Homes and More Efficient Buildings and Appliances

Upgrading home furnaces, ducts, windows, and insulation can cut energy bills by 20 to 40 percent, year after year. However, the existing Department of Energy weatherization program reaches only 100,000 homes a year while more than 28 million remain eligible. Similarly, appliance efficiency standards have greatly reduced the energy use of refrigerators and air conditioners, but better use of the Energy Star program could save even more. Edwards will reverse the Bush budget cuts to the weatherization program and instead expand it to $500 million a year. He will call on states to create updated energy building codes. Finally, he will raise federal efficiency standards for appliances and maximize the potential of the Energy Star program by working to get more efficient appliances in stores and educating buyers and builders. [Reicher, 2007; ACEEE 2005]

Create New Competition by Supporting Biofuels

Millions of cars already run on both gasoline and the E85 blend of ethanol and gasoline, but only about 600 of the nation's 169,000 gas stations have E85 pumps. Edwards will require oil companies to install ethanol pumps at 25 percent of their stations and require all new cars sold after 2010 to run on either gasoline or biofuels. He will also set a national goal of 65 billion gallons of ethanol a year by 2025 and invest in new, sustainable and efficient methods of producing and using biofuels. [RAND, 2006; DOE, 2005; USDA, 2005]

Raise Fuel Economy Standards and Help U.S. Automakers Modernize

Everyone should be able to drive the car, truck, or SUV of their choice and still enjoy high fuel economy, and American automakers have the ingenuity to lead the world in building the clean, safe, economical cars of the future. Edwards will raise fuel-economy standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2016 and provide $1 billion a year to help U.S. automakers advance and apply the latest technology, including biofuels, hybrid and electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, ultra-light materials, and drive train improvements.

Says our generation must be the one that commits to halting global warming

New Orleans, Louisiana – Today, Senator John Edwards delivered the keynote address on his plan to stop global warming at a National Day of Climate Action rally sponsored by Step It Up in New Orleans. Organized by students from Tulane University, the Gulf Restoration Network, Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Sierra Club, the rally began at the ArtEgg building in Central City and concluded with a "second line" parade to the Superdome lead by the Da Truth Brass Band and the Camel Toe Steppers.

New Orleans City Council member Shelley Midura introduced Edwards, who spoke about his plans to halt global warming, achieve energy independence and jumpstart a new energy economy.

"Our generation must be the one that commits to halting global warming." said Edwards. "If we don't act now, it will be too late. Our generation must be the one that says 'yes' to renewable fuels and ends forever our dependence on foreign oil. Our generation must be the one that accepts responsibility for conserving natural resources and demands the tools to do it. And our generation must be the one that builds the New Energy Economy. It won't be easy, but it is time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something other than war."

This marks Edwards' second appearance at a Step It Up rally

Edwards' has called for addressing global warming by:

As part of the campaign's "American Heroes Week," Edwards traveled to Louisiana to honor the people of New Orleans. This morning, Edwards was joined by supporters and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers in New Orleans' Upper 9th Ward for a day of rebuilding the area devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"Elizabeth and I are looking forward to the opportunity to talk to New Hampshire voters over the next four days," Senator John Edwards said. "I look forward to discussing my detailed plans of how we are going to build one America that benefits everyone.

"One of the crucial issues facing us today is global warming," Edwards continued. "My plan will combat global warming, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and create good-paying 'Green Collar' jobs in America."

New Hampshire continues to suffer from increases in particulate matter and ozone, as well as additional air pollution blowing up from the mid-west and other states.

Edwards is leading by example by using a biodiesel bus on this tour and running a carbon neutral campaign.

Edwards continues to drive the Democratic agenda with his specific ideas to transform our country. While Washington offers only rhetoric, empty talk and half-measures, Edwards is offering courage, conviction and bold ideas to build one America.

The next three days of the tour will focus on additional critical issues facing America – delivering truly universal healthcare; providing economic fairness and rewarding work; and ending the war in Iraq and honoring our veterans.

For a fact sheet on Edwards' bold plan, click here. More details can be found at http://johnedwards.com/issues/energy/new-energy-economy.

Builds on his aggressive plan to fight global warming and build a New Energy Economy

Centerville, Bloomfield, Keokuk, Burlington, Wapello and Iowa City, Iowa – On the fifth day of Senator John Edwards’ “Fighting for One America” tour, Edwards praised the work of Iowa’s biofuels innovators and outlined his plan to accelerate the use of biofuels on America’s roads and highways and reduce America’s oil imports by 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025. In March, Edwards laid out an aggressive energy plan to fight global warming and create a New Energy Economy in our country.

“Washington is being held captive by big oil companies and their Washington lobbyists, who put profits before helping regular families and finding real solutions to our energy crisis,” said Edwards. “Here in Iowa, innovators have created new technologies that will help end America’s oil addiction and fight global warming. We need to get biofuels on America’s roads and highways so we can cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and protect our national interest by reducing our dependency on foreign oil.”

Edwards believes that with American ingenuity and resolve we can turn the crisis of global warming into an opportunity -- ending our dependence on foreign oil and creating a new energy economy that embraces innovation, brings rural communities back to life and creates new, good-paying jobs.

As part of his plan to speed up the use of biofuels on our roads, Edwards will:

• Give Kids a Biofuel Ride to School: Today, Edwards announced a new Biofuel Buses program to help school districts replace conventional diesel with cleaner-burning biodiesel blends in 100,000 school buses nationwide. Biodiesel reduces bus-riding children’s exposure to cancer and asthma-causing emissions.
• Boost Biofuel Production: Edwards will invest in public-private research partnerships to develop ways to maximize America’s biofuel ouput while minimizing pollution, soil erosion, and water, land and energy use.
• Build Out the Biofuels Infrastructure: Edwards will require oil companies to install biofuel pumps at 25 percent of their gas stations and require all new cars sold after 2010 to be “flex fuel” cars running on either gasoline or biofuel.
• Make American Cars and Trucks Virtually Petroleum-Free: Edwards believes that American automakers have the ingenuity to lead the world in building the clean, safe, economical cars of the future. He will provide $1 billion a year to help U.S. automakers advance and apply the latest technology, including biofuels, hybrid and electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, ultra-light materials, and drive train improvements.
• Raise Fuel Economy Standards: Edwards believes that everyone should be able to drive the car, truck or SUV of their choice and still enjoy high fuel economy. American cars and trucks are less efficient than they were two decades ago, despite the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. Edwards will raise standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2016, a step that could single-handedly reduce oil demand by 4 million barrels per day.

A detailed fact sheet outlining Edwards’ plan to put Iowa’s biofuels on America’s roads is below.

The Edwards campaign has launched a blog on its Iowa webpage featuring updates, photos, and video about the seven-day “Fighting for One America” bus tour. To follow along with the trip, Iowans are invited visit JohnEdwards.com/Iowa.

The Road to a New Energy Economy

Edwards Outlines Plan to Put Iowa’s Biofuels on America’s Roads

While Washington is captive to special interests who have blocked real solutions to climate change, innovators in Iowa are leading the way towards the clean, renewable fuels of the future. Ethanol – starch-based today, expanded to include cellulosic tomorrow – can reduce carbon pollution by 20 to 80 percent compared to gasoline, and biodiesels by up to 78 percent. Iowa is the national leader in ethanol production, with 28 refineries in production and 20 more in construction – along with 13 existing biodiesel refineries. Nearly 100,000 Iowans are already driving flex-fuel cars and refueling at the state’s 67 E85 stations. John Edwards has long supported the development of ethanol and other biofuels. Today, he announced his plan to accelerate the use of biofuels on America’s roads and highways, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health and reducing America’s oil imports by at least 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025. [Washington Post, 6/14/2007; DOE / USDA, 1998; Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, 2006; DOE, 2007]

• Give Kids a Biofuel Ride to School: America’s school buses transport 23 million children each year, and 90 percent of them run on diesel. Children on diesel school buses are exposed to dangerous levels of soot, which can lead to increased rates of cancer and asthma. Today, Edwards announced a new Biofuel Buses program to help school districts replace conventional diesel with cleaner-burning biodiesel blends in 100,000 school buses nationwide. Biodiesel is a biodegradable renewable fuel made from animal fats or vegetable oils such as soybean. It is available nationwide and usually requires no modifications to diesel engines. Most importantly, if used with a soot filter, it reduces soot and carbon monoxide emissions by up to 50 percent, and can virtually eliminate sulfur pollution. Edwards’ program will give competitive grants to school districts, expand on the existing EPA program, and also support other clean technology buses. [UCS, 2006; Marshall, Beherentz, 2005; National Biodiesel Board, 2007]
• Boost Biofuel Production: America’s forests and farmland could eventually produce 1.3 billion tons of biomass feedstock for biofuels a year. Edwards will invest in public-private research partnerships to develop ways to maximize America’s biofuel ouput while minimizing pollution, soil erosion, and water, land and energy use. His New Economy Energy Fund – financed by pollution permits and an end to oil industry giveaways – will help develop new methods of producing and using corn and cellulosic ethanol, support loan guarantees to new refineries, and support making the renewable production tax credit permanent. [DOE / USDA, 2005]
• Build Out the Biofuels Infrastructure: Although an estimated 6 million ethanol-ready cars are on the roads, only about 900 of the country’s 169,000 gas stations have pumps for E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline. Edwards will require oil companies to install biofuel pumps at 25 percent of their gas stations and require all new cars sold after 2010 to be “flex fuel” cars running on either gasoline or biofuel. [NEVC, 2007; Driving RAND, 2006; DOE, 2005; USDA, 2005]
• Make American Cars and Trucks Virtually Petroleum-Free: With a strong ethanol industry that includes cellulosic ethanol and hybrid and electric technology, American cars and trucks can be virtually petroleum-free within a generation. Edwards believes that American automakers have the ingenuity to lead the world in building the clean, safe, economical cars of the future. He will provide $1 billion a year to help U.S. automakers advance and apply the latest technology, including biofuels, hybrid and electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, ultra-light materials, and drive train improvements.
• Raise Fuel Economy Standards: Edwards believes that everyone should be able to drive the car, truck or SUV of their choice and still enjoy high fuel economy. American cars and trucks are less efficient than they were two decades ago, despite the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. Standards in China, Japan, and the European Union are between 40 and 100 percent higher. Edwards will raise standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2016, a step that could single-handedly reduce oil demand by 4 million barrels per day. [Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2004; Reicher, 2007]

While Washington is captive to special interests who have blocked real solutions to climate change, innovators in Iowa are leading the way towards the clean, renewable fuels of the future. Ethanol – starch-based today, expanded to include cellulosic tomorrow – can reduce carbon pollution by 20 to 80 percent compared to gasoline, and biodiesels by up to 78 percent. Iowa is the national leader in ethanol production, with 28 refineries in production and 20 more in construction – along with 13 existing biodiesel refineries. Nearly 100,000 Iowans are already driving flex-fuel cars and refueling at the state's 67 E85 stations. John Edwards has long supported the development of ethanol and other biofuels. Today, he announced his plan to accelerate the use of biofuels on America's roads and highways, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health and reducing America's oil imports by at least 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025. [Washington Post, 6/14/2007; DOE / USDA, 1998; Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, 2006; DOE, 2007]

Discusses Green Collar Jobs Plan to Train Workers in the New Energy Economy

Las Vegas, Nevada – Senator John Edwards today toured the University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) Solar Site to bring attention to the critical need to achieve energy independence, stop global warming and create a new energy economy. Edwards discussed his Green Collar Jobs plan to train workers for jobs in the new energy economy.

“Global warming is a crisis that will fundamentally change our planet if we don’t act now. But it also presents an opportunity to rebuild America's economy based on clean, renewable energy and good jobs,” Edwards said. “UNLV is doing excellent work in developing better and cheaper ways to produce renewable energy. With the right investment Nevada can be a leader in supplying energy to the country and creating jobs.”

During his 12th visit to Nevada since announcing his campaign for president, Edwards talked about his plans to sell carbon pollution permits to build a New Energy Economy Fund to revitalize America's manufacturing base, bring struggling family farms back to life, and harness American innovation. He described how he will ensure that workers have the needed skills to build the new energy economy and that it creates good job opportunities for hard-working Americans.

The New Energy Economy Fund’s investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology will create more than 1 million new jobs. Many of these jobs must be performed locally and cannot be offshored. However, it will take a concerted effort to ensure that America's workforce is well-trained for the new energy economy, that these jobs are good jobs, and that the economic opportunity is broadly shared.

The "Green Collar Jobs" initiative will help train and employ at least 150,000 workers a year in new energy economy jobs. Edwards will dedicate 50,000 government-subsidized Stepping Stone jobs to energy-related occupations. In addition, the Green Collar Jobs training initiative will work with employers, unions, community colleges and high schools to prepare and engage the next generation of workers.

According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, a 100-mile-wide spot in the Southern Nevada desert has the potential to generate enough solar energy to play a major role in providing for the nation's energy needs. UNLV’s Center for Energy Research Director, Robert F. Boehm Ph.D., PE, showed Edwards how the school is working to develop technology that would help make that goal cost affective and achievable.

Edwards, who has visited Nevada more than any other major candidate, has a plan to turn the crisis of climate change into an opportunity for a new energy economy. To learn more about the plan visit: http://johnedwards.com/issues/energy/new-energy-economy/

Last week, Nevada Conservationists for Edwards announced a list of 31 members statewide including Scot Rutledge, the group’s chair. Rutledge is respected statewide among conservationists and is supporting Edwards because of his commitment to protecting our resources in Nevada and across the nation. Rutledge joined Edwards for the tour.

Confronting the Challenge of Global Warming Also Brings Opportunities for New Iowa Jobs

Des Moines, Iowa – Senator John Edwards today announced a new initiative he would pursue as President to ensure that regular Americans share in the benefits of the new energy economy. His investments in a new energy future are projected to create over a million new jobs economy-wide, and the new Green Collar Jobs training plan will offer job training and placement for up to 150,000 workers a year.

"We can turn the crisis of climate change into an opportunity for a new energy economy, right here in America – and Iowa in particular," Edwards said. "Now is the time to make sure that the economy of tomorrow is an all-aboard economy where nobody is left behind."

John Edwards has already proposed an ambitious plan to cap global warming pollution and reduce it by 80 percent by 2050. At the same time, he will sell carbon pollution permits to build a New Energy Economy Fund to bring struggling family farms back to life, revitalize America's manufacturing base and harness American innovation.

The initiative announced today would ensure that this aggressive battle against global warming also translates into new Iowa jobs. In particular, the Edwards plan will:

• Provide Green Collar Jobs Training Grants that will help train and certify up to 150,000 workers a year for jobs in the new energy economy - meeting the needs of industry and Americans seeking better jobs and opportunity, as well as our environment.
• Create 50,000 stepping-stone jobs in the new energy economy. As part of his plan to end poverty in America, Edwards called for the creation of government-subsidized stepping stone jobs that give people with barriers to employment a chance to learn new skills and work their way up. Edwards would dedicate 50,000 of these jobs to companies involved in the new energy economy.
• Use grant funding to encourage partnerships between states, businesses, labor unions, community groups and educators to train these workers – so that workers actually get the skills and training that businesses need.
• Provide grant funding to community colleges to partner with companies involved in the new energy economy to develop job training programs specifically tailored to meet needs of this growing industry.
• Ensure that high school students are prepared for jobs in the new energy economy. Edwards would create Green Career Academies -- small learning communities within high schools that use a college preparatory curriculum with a career theme and engage employers, unions, and local colleges to participate.

Click here for a fact sheet on Senator Edwards' initiative.