President-elect Barack Obama has not even moved into the White House and already he is being inundated with calls for climate change action and clean energy technology commitments. Al Gore’s group – Alliance for Climate Change is running a Repower America campaign asking Obama to consider Repowering America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years.
In July 2008, Al Gore issued a challenge to Repower America with 100% clean electricity within ten years. Building on that challenge, the “We” Campaign (part of the Al Gore founded Alliance for Climate Protection) is launching a major advertising and grassroots effort to support and encourage the new President-Elect and other leaders to fulfill the election’s mandate for change and enact bold policies to revitalize the American economy and help solve the climate crisis.
But how can gas guzzling, oil-devouring America become 100% clean energy sufficient in a mere 10 years? The We Campaign has outlined a detailed and compelling plan explaining how to make clean energy a concrete reality. They outline the three primary areas of importance as invest in three core areas – efficiency, generation and transmission.
Energy Efficiency: A national upgrade to eliminate waste, save money, and improve comfort. Make every bit of energy we produce work harder for us.
Renewable Generation: Accelerate the ramp-up of clean, renewable electricity sources through policies that support increased private and public investment in technologies that work, like wind, solar, and geothermal.
National Unified Smart Grid: Modernize transmission infrastructure so that clean electricity generated anywhere in America can power homes and businesses across the nation; Build national electricity 'interstates' that move power quickly and cheaply to where it is needed; Establish local smart grids that buy and sell power from households and support clean plug-in cars.
“There has never been a better time than right now to Repower America,” said Cathy Zoi, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that manages the 1.8 million-member “We” Campaign. “Now is not the time for small steps or a narrow focus. The American people are calling for bold change, and Repower America is the big solution to get our country back on track quickly. Quickly transitioning to clean energy will kick-start our economy, generate millions of new jobs and provide the foundation for long term economic growth.”
Starting on November 6th 2008, a series of advertisements will run on television, in print and online. The first ad poses the question, “Now What?” The answer: “Our nation just made history. We have an historic opportunity to boost our economy and Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. It will create new American jobs, end our addiction to dirty coal and foreign oil and solve the climate crisis.” The ad concludes, “Big problems need big solutions. History is watching.”
To sign a petition asking President-elect Obama for bold action on climate change visit: http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/obamapetition
Repower America: www.repoweramerica.org
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