A Hoffa you can't refuse

Blockbuster Teamsters announcement rejects oil drilling as an energy solution 5

For years, the Teamsters have supported opening the Arctic Refuge and other protected areas to oil drilling; they ran ads bashing John Kerry on it in 2004. So it is a Very Big Deal that the Teamsters have just come out and rejected drilling as a solution to the energy crisis.

At an event in Oakland, Calif., Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said that drilling won't do anything to help; he announced that the Teamsters are withdrawing from the coalition pushing for Arctic drilling; and he stressed that pushing for "alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power" will revitalize the economy and create jobs.

It looks like reality is finally starting to bite in American politics.

UPDATE: Kate called up Teamsters spokeswoman Leigh Strope for more on the move.

"Americans are suffering in this difficult economy," said Strope. "[President Hoffa] really realized, like a lot of people have, that there needs to be a long-term energy solution. Like he said, we can't drill our way out of this problem ... We need a comprehensive energy policy to deal with this crisis."

"It's important to our members," Strope continued. "There's an opportunity to really explore the whole issue of green jobs, and that would obviously benefit Teamsters and all Americans."

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

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  1. Seastone26 Posted 6:43 am
    23 Jul 2008

    The Teamsters and DrillingThis is fantastic news!  Can the world be changing before our eyes?  Can people finally be getting hip to what needs to be done?  Can we actually change course and head toward a sustainable, just future for this beleaguered planet?  NAH!  Anyway, stay tuned.

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  2. Wolverine Posted 10:36 am
    23 Jul 2008

    Revival Of The Teamsters & Turtles Alliance?I hate to be unduly optimistic, but maybe this signals a real chance to ally with unions that have been very anti-environmental.  The Teamsters and Turtles alliance fell apart as soon as the Teamsters advocated for drilling in ANWR.  Now that they've seen the light, we should ally with them, at least on this issue.  I'm sure they won't be too thrilled about reducing consumption such as driving, but we can save that issue for later.

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  3. amazingdrx Posted 3:32 pm
    23 Jul 2008

    Plugin hybrid drivetrains in trucksI think the Teamsters could get behind that.  And moving long haul trucking to renewable electric freight trains, with union workers doing the railroa upgrade and manufacturing.  Operating the trains and transfer facilities.
    Maybe even coal mining unions could get into converting coal to natural gas with underground biodigestion, right in the coal deposits.  Union miners retrained to operate the new process, instead of coal mining.
    You can't scare america, we're sticking to the union.  The unions that brought fair wages and safe working conditions to union and non-union workers alike.

    http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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  4. Zephaniah Posted 1:36 am
    24 Jul 2008

    Out of their minesPleease. Who profits from keeping miners in the mines??  The owners, ownly. Coal gassification is so last century.  Miners, mines' neighbors and shareholders would profit from leaving the coal in the ground and retraining the miners to  capture energy directly from sunlight by building solar photovoltaics, at union wages.

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  5. PurpleOzone Posted 2:59 am
    24 Jul 2008

    Where would you rather work?Near your house, wife, kids, friends, installing solar panels --

    or drilling in the wilds of the Arctic admiring polar bears?

    The potential of local infrastructure jobs is motivating the Teamsters. Spending money at home helps our local economies. Increasing American competitiveness saves $ from going to the Middle East.

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