Out of chaos, hope in South Carolina

guest post from 1Sky field team member Jason Kowalski
 

As the numbers roll in, and the victory speeches are made, the 1Sky field team is taking a breather after a few hard weeks of campaigning in South Carolina alongside the candidates.  Uniting with students and conservation groups across the state, the 1Sky team brought green jobs into the debate at a time when the economy is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

In South Carolina, the candidates sparred on center stage, but the real battles took place outside candidate events – in line, in parking lots, and on the television in people’s homes.  For us, each day was a battle of two two-word slogans, namely: "Green Jobs" vs. "Clean Coal."  In a state with two particularly unclean proposed coal-fired power plants, the coal lobby has invested millions of dollars to try and convince South Carolinians that building dirty plants is the only way to meet our energy needs.  We said otherwise.

The truth is of course that renewable energy and energy efficiency investments produce more jobs than the coal industry would in SC.  Our message was one of hope and empowerment and unity. Fortunately for us, most people recognize the hypocrisy of the "clean" coal lobby – at one point some hard-hat wearing youth even led a tripartisan "No New Coal" chant just outside the Myrtle Beach debates.

At candidate events the grassroots 1Sky team emerged victorious ona regular basis, but it’s going to take much more work to counter the efforts of a $35 million dollar "astroturf" campaign that can afford to sponsor CNN debates.  Fortunately our message is one of promise and hope, not pessimism and fear.

Democrats and Republicans alike are interested in the connection between green jobs and renewable energy, especially if they provide an alternative to a new coal plant in their backyard.  "I’d rather unplug my airconditioner, and use a fan, than make my grandkids grow up next to a coal plant" said one SC resident in an exit poll interview.  "As a loyal Republican, and a good Christian, I just want to keep my family safe."