The First in a Series of Ads Features Business Leaders' Support for Strong Energy & Climate Legislation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- We Can Lead, a network of over 150 companies and top business leaders from 30 states, launched the first in a series of television ads featuring American business leaders who support passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation. We Can Lead plans a robust television advertising campaign of at least $1 million, which will continue into 2010.

This week, the television ad campaign began in the Washington DC market on the Sunday news programs. The first ad features David Vieau, President and CEO of A123 Systems, a manufacturer of advanced lithium ion batteries and battery systems, which is constructing a new production facility in Michigan.

Highlighting A123's role in bringing manufacturing jobs back to America's heartland, the 30-second spot calls on the US Senate to move beyond the same old energy debate and pass a strong energy and climate bill to create stable markets so that US businesses can be leaders in the world.

Text of the ad:

"For 35 years we've been stuck in the same energy debate.

"I'm David Vieau, CEO of the largest advanced battery company in the U.S. -- bringing manufacturing jobs back to America's heartland.

"With so many Americans out of work, we can't afford the same old energy bill.

"We need a strong energy and climate bill to create stable markets so U.S. businesses can be leaders in the world.

"Tell the Senate to pass a strong energy and climate bill -- because this isn't about politics, it's about people."

The ad, paid for by the Clean Economy Network, Inc., can be viewed at wecanlead.org

Business leaders from 150 companies from 30 states across the country joined the We Can Lead effort and traveled to Washington in early October 2009 to meet with Administration officials and more than 50 members of Congress to urge passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation. We Can Lead continues to advocate for passage of comprehensive legislation that includes a price on carbon to spur American innovation, unleash U.S. investment, create millions of new jobs, restore America's competitiveness and provide for economic and national security.

About We Can Lead

We Can Lead is sponsored by the Clean Economy Network, Inc. and Ceres' Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP). For more on We Can Lead, visit www.wecanlead.org

The Clean Economy Network, Inc. (CEN) is the national non-partisan advocacy organization for individuals who support the development of a clean economy. It develops public positions on, and actively engages with policymakers and elected officials to lobby for specific legislative proposals critical to the development and growth of a new clean economy.

Ceres is the largest coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America. Ceres launched the BICEP coalition, whose members include Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks, Sun Microsystems, The Timberland Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry's, Eileen Fisher, Stonyfield Farm Inc., and Symantec.

SOURCE We Can Lead, Washington, D.C.

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http://www.wecanlead.org