AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka Joins BlueGreen Alliance & Apollo Alliance Project to Bestow Awards forVision and Leadership in Building a 21st Century Clean Energy Economy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 22, 2011) To recognize their vision and leadership in building a 21^st century clean energy economy and creating good, green jobs, last night the Apollo Alliance Project of the BlueGreen Alliance — joined by AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka — presented The Right Stuff Awards to Denise Fairchild, Inaugural President of the Emerald Cities Collaborative and California-based Applied Materials, a leading equipment supplier of the photovoltaic (PV) industry.

“Denise Fairchild has worked tirelessly with the Emerald Cities Collaborative to build greener, stronger and more prosperousAmerican cities, while Applied Materials has demonstrated clear vision and commitment to growing the American solar industry,” said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance, which unites 10 U.S. labor unions and four of America’s most influential environmental organizations. “We are pleased to bestow The Right Stuff Awards this year to an individual and company that are leading the way in building a clean energy economy and creating good jobs across the country.”

Denise Fairchild is the Inaugural President of the Emerald Cities Collaborative. Under her leadership, the Emerald Cities Collaborative works in 10 cities across the country to tackle the challenge of greening American cities while advancing social equity. Through projects like her work with Ohio BlueGreen Apollo Alliance, she is implementing substantive energy efficiency and sustainable development programs that also improve job quality and job access for Americans.

Applied Materials is the leading equipment supplier to the photovoltaic (PV) industry. Using their guiding principles of energy efficiency, scale, design for the environment, and community involvement, Applied Materials is catalyzing change in electricity use. They are working to lower the cost of thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) to make solar energy more economically accessible. Applied Materials’ solar arrays have already generated over 8600 MWh and reduced over 11 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition, the BlueGreen Alliance and Apollo Alliance Project also presented the first Green Jobs Legacy Award to Apollo Alliance Advisory Board Chairman and BlueGreen Alliance Board Member Phil Angelides, as well as United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard and Sierra Club Chairman Carl Pope, both founders of the BlueGreen Alliance. All three are founding board members of the Apollo Alliance.

“The solution to our economic, environmental and energy challenges lies in building an economy that ensures America’s competitiveness in the 21stcentury,” said Foster. “Tonight’s awardees are demonstrating that every day, and we are pleased to honor themtonight.”

Earlier this year, Apollo Alliance joined forces with the BlueGreen Alliance to strengthen and unify the movement to build an economy that creates good jobs while confronting our energy and environmental challenges. Beginning July 1, the two organizations combined to become the new BlueGreen Alliance, which is now home to the Apollo Alliance Project. This powerful merged organization will continue to partner with labor unions, environmental groups, businesses and community organizations to advance a bold vision of how America creates good jobs, reduces pollution and our dependence on foreign oil, and ensures the United States is a leader in the 21st century economy.

To learn more about this event and our honorees, visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.