Green group targets Latinos in clean energy push

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) launched a campaign Wednesday to encourage Latinos in the Southwest to push for renewable energy and other electricity fuels with low emissions.

LCV said its polling has already shown strong Latino support for renewables. About 70 percent of Latinos live in high-pollution areas, the group said.

{mosads}“Our communities see clean energy as an essential step towards reducing pollution, improving our health and strengthening our economy,” Jennifer Allen, director of LCV’s Latino outreach program, said in a statement. “These new campaigns will ensure that the communities who are most harmed by pollution are part of the solution.”

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) helped launch the “grassroots” campaign.

“We support investments in solar and wind energy, and hold a sense of moral responsibility for not only cleaning up pollution, but tackling the threats of climate change and the severe weather and disasters that come with it,” Grijalva said in LCV’s statement.

The campaign is targeted to New Mexico and Arizona.

In New Mexico, LCV wants the state to reject a plan to replace two coal units at the San Juan Generating Station with coal and nuclear capacity. In Arizona, it wants the Salt River Project utility to use more solar wind power.