STATEMENT FROM GREEN FOR ALL CEO PHAEDRA ELLIS-LAMKINS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS

Tonight, President Obama delivered his first Oval Office address about the Gulf Coast catastrophe and our nation’s energy approach going forward.

The statement, from Green For All Chief Executive Officer Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, follows:

"We applaud President Obama's plan for the restoration of the Gulf Coast and his commitment to comprehensive climate-change legislation.

"As the President stated tonight, we must embrace a clean-energy future. We must unleash American innovation and position our country at the global forefront of a clean-energy economy. We must create millions of good, green jobs and challenge the false choice of having to choose between a paycheck and personal safety. It starts with passing comprehensive climate and energy legislation that creates a more equitable, clean, and secure future for all Americans.

“In addition to protecting and restoring the Gulf Coast, the Administration must safeguard our nation against another dirty-energy disaster. Our President, and more importantly, our country know that we are on an unsustainable path, too dependent on unreliable and dirty-energy sources.

“The oil rig explosion represents a watershed moment. We can choose to move towards greater energy independence and increased national security, or we can continue to put the profits of multinational corporations ahead of the livelihoods of American families.

“We thank the President for his vision of a clean-energy future. We look forward to working closely with the Administration and the leadership of the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass legislation that prevents a tragedy like this from ever occurring again, and that improves the health, wealth, and well-being of all Americans.”