Strickland helps launch 'New Apollo Project'

COLUMBUS – Gov. Ted Strickland is lending his support to the “New Apollo Program,” an advocacy group that aims to invest $500 billion in renewable energy resources, infrastructure and carbon dioxide restrictions.

While the group is officially non-partisan, Strickland was joined by former California treasurer Phil Angelides and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) to tout the need for a half-trillion investment from the federal government over 10 years to fund investments to conserve energy, retool the auto industry for alternative-fuel vehicles and retrain workers.
The plan would create 400,000 “green-collar jobs” in Ohio, Angelides said.

“These improvements we are making in Ohio to advanced energy have one thing in common: they will produce Ohio jobs and stimulate Ohio’s economy,” Strickland said.

Even though the federal budget is straining under new rounds of spending, Strickland said the country must invest now or else it will not be prepared to create jobs later.

“Obviously we’ve got to do everything possible to help people right now but we cannot allow ourselves to be detoured from taking those actions that will be necessary to making sure that jobs will be available in the future,” Strickland said.

The program would be funded partially with revenue from the sale of carbon-emission offsets.

Apollo Project member Inslee joined 15th Congressional District candidate Mary Jo Kilroy at a press conference Thursday as well.