Statement of Executive Director Margie Alt:
Sen. Obama’s “New Energy for America” plan provides a real roadmap for changing
the direction of our nation’s energy policy.
After nearly eight years of heading in the wrong direction, there
has never been a more important time to jump start a clean energy economy. America
is at an energy crossroads and this plan takes the smarter, cleaner energy
path.
Senator Obama’s plan recognizes the economic and environmental
imperative of real investments in the technologies that move our nation
beyond oil, transition our economy to clean renewable energy and curb global
warming pollution.
In particular, we look forward to working with Senator Obama and the rest
of Congress to increase fuel economy standards, put one million plug in hybrids
on the road, enact a strong renewable electricity standard, promote high performance
energy-saving homes and businesses, put a cap on global warming pollution, and
create 5 million green jobs.
In addition, Senator Obama’s plan recognizes people’s current pain at
the pump. His plan anticipates high
winter heating bills and has solutions that will help people immediately.
The energy saving, renewable energy policies in Senator Obama’s plan
are exactly the type of solutions that America needs.
Simultaneous with Sen. Obama putting out his visionary plan, Big Oil
and its allies in Washington have been waging a slick campaign to convince Americans and the
Congress that risking pristine beaches for offshore oil is the way to go. In
fact, more drilling will neither reduce prices nor cut our dependence on dirty
oil. We are disappointed to see that Sen. Obama has expressed openness to
compromise on offshore drilling and the health of our beaches when oil savings
from his proposals for more efficient vehicles would better serve our needs,
save consumers money and enhance the economy.”
