( Washington, D.C. ) – Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) today announced his membership in the new Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), a focused, action-based caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Energy is critical to tackling the current economic crisis including the increase in cost-of-living as well as the loss of American jobs,” said Congressman Russ Carnahan. “An investment in renewable energy is an investment in our short and long-term economy.”

The group recently met with Assistant to the President Carol Browner to discuss energy and climate policy.  Additionally, the SEEC has been working to strengthen green technology provisions in the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

The SEEC’s stated purpose is “to advance policies that promote clean energy technology innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create green collar jobs throughout the product supply-chain, help arrest global warming and protect our nation’s clean air, water and natural environment.”

“The formation of this coalition demonstrates that the American people demand bold action,” said Congressman Carnahan. “Green jobs of the future not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil and curb dangerous carbon dioxide emissions they also guarantee jobs for Americans – jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas.”

The SEEC has thirty-five founding members, a strong show of initial support in a session of Congress that will be a turning point in climate and energy policy. The group is chaired by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash) and Steve Israel (D-N.Y.).

The coalition will operate like the Blue Dogs or the New Democrats – and also work with these and other groups on common goals – in that it will assertively push to advance its legislative agenda in talks with House leadership and other groups within Congress.

The SEEC formed at the end of the 110^th Congress when Congressman Carnahan attended a meeting called by Inslee and for like-minded members of Congress to discuss how they could impact the 2008 House energy and economic recovery bills.  In the 2008 and 2009 economic recovery packages, the group successfully inserted provisions for the federal support of advanced-battery manufacturers.

The Coalition will be working with House leadership, the White House, and other groups in Congress to advance their energy priorities.

In 2008 Congressman Carnahan co-founded the Congressional High-Performance Buildings Caucus. High-performance green buildings have a duel role both in terms of immediate job creation for the construction of new buildings and retrofitting existing structures, as well as directly addressing the environmental impact that our built environment has on global climate change.