SAN FRANCISCO (January 5, 2015) – Following Gov. Jerry Brown’s joint Inauguration and State of the State Address, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from California Director JB Tengco:

“Repairing California’s failing infrastructure systems was front and center in today’s speech. We applaud Gov. Brown’s call to come together and tackle California’s longstanding infrastructure challenges. We cannot delay in addressing shortfalls in our critical infrastructure—like transit, energy and water. Broken down systems—from the natural gas distribution and water pipes beneath our feet to the roads and bridges in our state—create excess carbon pollution and other greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. They also cost us time and money.

“Fixing California’s failing infrastructure can address climate change and create new jobs. Repairing these systems now is an opportunity to save money and reduce carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases, while creating family-sustaining jobs that Californians need.

“The Governor got it right when he said, ‘Taking significant amounts of carbon out of our economy without harming its vibrancy is exactly the sort of challenge at which California excels.’ We must address climate change in ways that create and preserve family-sustaining jobs. We can’t let the clean economy be a low wage economy.”