because this model's on a mission.
Pennsylvania Power Shift Pressures Environmental Lawmakers
Hundreds of Student Activists Gather to Fight Climate Change
and Push for Just Energy Policy
STATE COLLEGE, PA (October 27, 2009) – Over 300 students from across Pennsylvania gathered at Penn State University this weekend for Power Shift 09, the state’s first large-scale youth summit focused on climate change and environmental justice. Hosted by the Keystone Environmental Youth (KEY) Coalition and partner organizations of the Energy Action Coalition, the summit united youth leaders through a series of workshops, speeches and community outreach focused on moving beyond coal as an energy source, fighting natural gas and marcellus shale and making Pennsylvania college campuses models of sustainability for society.
With 2010 elections looming, young voters convened at the weekend-long summit to emphasize the importance of working toward a sustainable environment and clean energy future.
“Pennsylvania is a hotbed of activity right now,” said Summer Rayne Oakes, environmental activist and keynote speaker at Power Shift 09. “We, as a state, have a huge potential for green-collar jobs – and our growth in wind-energy generation is the second-most of any state. There is a ray of sunlight through Pennsylvania’s keyhole and Power Shift Pennsylvania was all about exploring those opportunities.”
Beginning with a rally outside of The HUB-Robeson Center, summit participants marched to Penn State’s West Campus Steam Plant and held a demonstration in support of moving the school beyond coal consumption. Later in the weekend, students spearheaded a massive letter writing campaign to Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa), asking him to maintain EPA authority in the climate bill, and submitted letters to the editors of local newspapers calling for widespread community involvement in preventing climate change.
In addition to Oakes, speakers at the event included Allison Chin, President of the Sierra Club, Khari Mosley, Director of Green Economy Initiatives for G-Tech Strategies, Raina Rippel, Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice, and State Representative Tony Payton, Jr.
The event was part of 11 regional Power Shift summits across the nation, bringing together thousands of young people to demand President Obama and Congress create a climate and energy plan by December that rebuilds the economy and puts an end to America’s dependence on dirty energy. The summits were organized by young voters to push campus, local and national leaders to take action on climate and energy by organizing rallies, events, protests, phone calls and meetings with elected officials, college administrators and community leaders.
As a follow-up to the summit, participants planned a statewide day of action for Friday, October 30th entitled “Coal Kills… Everything,” taking place on 6 campuses across the state.
For further information, please visit: www.pennsylvania.powershift09.org
###
About the Keystone Environmental Youth Coalition
The Keystone Environmental Youth Coalition, founded this year by students across the state is supported by the Sierra Student Coalition, Energy Justice Network and Energy Action Coalition. Energy Action Coalition was founded in 2004 and unites a diversity of organizations in an alliance that supports and strengthens the student and youth clean and just energy movement in North America. The 36 active and 14 supporting partners of Energy Action Coalition work together to leverage our collective power and create change for a clean, efficient, just and renewable energy future. Energy Action Coalition is addressing climate change by winning clean energy victories at the local, state, national, and international level – all while growing and strengthening the clean energy movement among young people from all walks of life in the United States and Canada.
