Press conference speakers included (from left to right): Jeff Rickert - Appollo Alliance, Matt Snell - UAW, Mike Perry - UAW Local 249, Charles Griffith - Ecology Center, Jill DeWitt - Burrough's Audubon Society, Emil Ramirez - United Steelworkers, Daniel Hamilton - Sierra Club

On August 4th, as the first hybrid SUV was unveiled at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant, a coalition of environmental and labor leaders kicked-off the Green Machines Tour. The launch of the Green Machines Tour included a press conference in which environmental and labor groups showed support for production of the new Escape Hybrid and an educational forum, both of which were hosted by UAW Local 249, in Claycomo, Missouri.

Charles Griffith, Ecology Center Auto Project Director

"This is an exciting time to launch the Green Machines Tour because the first UAW-made hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, will finally be available to U.S. consumers," said Charles Griffith, Auto Project Director at the Ecology Center. "The Tour is an educational campaign to showcase hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicle technologies being made in the nation's heartland. We want people in the Midwest to know that they can support our UAW workers and buy an environmentally-friendly vehicle."

Mike Perry, President UAW Local 249

"The launch of Ford's Escape Hybrid is bringing together two groups - autoworkers and environmentalists - who have not always seen eye-to-eye in the past," said Mike Perry, President of UAW Local 249, who was involved in organizing the event. "But this partnership is more important now than ever. The introduction of U.S.-made hybrids and other fuel-efficient technologies are essential to staying competitive, which will help the industry create and preserve good union jobs. while also protecting the environment."

Following the press conference the coalition hosted an educational forum to discuss fuel efficient technologies, energy efficiency, policy initiatives to promote energy efficiency, and action alternatives. Forum Agenda (pdf)

Speakers at the forum included: Charles Griffith -Ecology Center Auto Project Director, David Hamilton - Sierra Club Global Warming and Energy Program, Jim Ploger - Kansas Corporation Commission, Rudy Chavez - President IBEW Local 124, Bob Berebile - BNIM Architects, Garry Kemp - Greater KC Building and Construction Trade Council, Jeff Rickert - Apollo Alliance Research Director, and members of the regional Blue-Green Alliance, including Carla Klein of Sierra Club's Ozark Chapter and Emil Ramirez of the United Steelworkers.

Local 249 in Claycomo, MO

Members of UAW Local 249 are building the new Escape Hybrid at Ford's assembly plant in Claycomo. The introduction of the new Escape Hybrid made Ford the first domestic automaker to introduce hybrid-electric technology to the mainstream market, and also the first in the popular small SUV segment. The Escape Hybrid achieves up to 36 miles per gallon in city driving, or more than a 50 percent improvement over the standard Escape. It also has extremely low emissions, achieving the California Advanced Technology Partially Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standard.

Members of the labor-environmental coalition that organized the Kansas City Green Machines event included: The Ecology Center, UAW Local 249, Sierra Club, United Steelworkers of America, Apollo Alliance, Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City, and The Institute for Labor Studies.

For more information see the Ford Escape Hybrid Fact Sheet.