Claudia Strauss and David Arase, volunteers from MoveOn.org, build 'dirty coal plants' from sand during their Save Our Green Energy rally at Santa Monica Beach on Sunday, Aug 30, 2009. As the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill moves to the Senate, MoveOn is supporting Senator Boxer’s efforts to strengthen it. The version of the energy bill that passed the House of Representatives was significantly weakened by industry lobbyists and would repeal a key portion of the Clean Air Act, opening the door for as many as 100 new coal plants. To symbolize those coal plants, the participants will build 100 sand structures with smokestacks on the beach. “If we don’t fix the energy bill and save the Clean Air Act, we could get stuck with smokestacks from 100 new coal plants instead of creating thousands of new windmills and other clean energy solutions. Solar and wind create twice as many news jobs as dirty energy like coal or oil and the jobs are here in the US, helping our economy,” said Rita Reese, Council Coordinator for MoveOn.org Irvine and South Orange County Council. “We’re here to ask California residents to call on Senator Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, and tell her they support her efforts to create an energy bill that will save the Clean Air Act and give us the clean energy economy we need.”

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