They wore hardhats and fluorescent orange safety vests, and their message was clear. These workers who demonstrated at yesterday's Energy Citizens rally in Anchorage, Alaska, want affordable energy and jobs.

These men and women are laborers and truckers who say they're worried about the potential impact of the Waxman-Markey climate bill. A new study shows the bill could have a particularly negative impact on Alaska, eliminating thousands of jobs and causing a financial burden on each household amounting to about $325 a month by 2030. They were joined at the Energy Citizens rally yesterday by seniors, veterans, energy workers and homemakers who want the U.S. Senate to reject the Waxman-Markey bill and craft something better.

Some of the truckers at the rally were from Carlile Transportatio... more »

If you ever want to see democracy in action, attend an Energy Citizens rally for jobs and affordable energy. Thursday, at the rally in Tampa, Florida, 175 people of all ages came together in hopes of sending a message to their elected officials in Tallahassee and Washington.

"Why are you here?" I asked several people as they entered the Old Ritz Theater in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood.

The responses varied greatly from, "I'm here for my kids and grandkids," and "I'm a Marine and my father fought in World War II," to "We have to take action to save America." Some were members of Glen Beck's 9-12 organization that's planning a massive march in Washington.

Others were involved in the Tea Party movement. Some were hoping to convince Florida state officials to extend the state boundary fa... more »

When she was asked why she decided to attend the Energy Citizens rally in Nashville, the woman in the white sweater said simply, "passion." And Tonya Jones' passion showed when she got onto the stage and explained that she is a small business owner who can't afford the provisions in the House-passed climate bill.

She wasn't alone. As the audience of 325 people listened respectfully, similar warnings were issued by speakers from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and the American Farm Bureau. They agreed that the U.S. Senate should scrap the Waxman-Markey bill and start over.

The sentiment was matched at rallies in Greeley, Colo., and Elkhart, Ind. About 700-800 people attended the rally in Greeley, and an estimated 200 people were at the Elkhart event where job retention and affordable ene... more »

For those of you who couldn't attend yesterday's Energy Citizens rally in Houston, we've posted a video about the event. As you'll see, the crowd donned the yellow T-shirts passed out at the door, waved signs and listened intently to the speakers.

It was obvious to me that the 3,500 participants were very sincere in their concern about the House-passed climate bill on their jobs and their families. As I walked through the crowd, several people had stories to tell.

Eric, for example, was worried about American jobs being exported overseas as a result of the Waxman-Markey legislation. He mentioned that India recently built a huge refinery with the sole purpose of exporting petroleum products. He wondered about the future of U.S. refining and how the bill could affect the economy.

Kristen sa... more »

About 3,500 people streamed into Houston's Verizon Wireless Center today to remind Congress that energy is the backbone of the U.S. economy. Many wore bright yellow T-shirts emblazoned with "I'm an Energy Citizen," and hundreds signed petitions opposing the House-passed climate bill. Studies have shown that the bill will greatly increase fuel prices and eliminate millions of jobs.

The rally was organized by an alliance of 18 national groups and scores of local organizations who have voiced concern about the Waxman-Markey climate bill. Together they created a forum where Americans from all walks of life could express their views on the legislation's potential impact on their jobs and lives. Before the rally began, many of the attendees chanted, "Save our jobs" and waved posters bearing slog... more »