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Repowering America with clean energy

Ambitious goals in 2009 and beyond

Even as we celebrated a clean energy victory in October—when Congress finally approved Environment Virginia-backed clean energy tax credits—we turned our attention to building support for a bold plan to repower America. As 2009 begins, we’re urging Virginia’s congressional delegation and President Barack Obama to pass a comprehensive energy plan that will cut dependence on oil and reduce global warming.

Saving energy through high-performance and zero-energy homes and businesses can cut energy use by 30 percent. Energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but we also need new sources of clean, renewable homegrown energy. 

Concentrated solar power in the Southwest and in cities across America and wind power offshore and on land could provide the power we need to meet our electricity needs and even help meet our transportation requirements. Exciting new breakthroughs are being made every day to extend the reach of today’s technologies.  

Political momentum

Environment Virginia worked to persuade then President-elect Obama and incoming members of the 111th Congress to commit to the following principles: get to 100 percent renewable electricity, cut global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050, and cut oil use in half. We laid the groundwork with a report we wrote and released just after the election, “Renewing America,” a blueprint for rebuilding our economy on a sound foundation of clean energy. In addition, we educated the public door-to-door and activated our e-mail list to build support for the plan. We enlisted the support of scientists, business leaders and entrepreneurs to stand up to the opposition from the oil, gas and coal industries.

President Barack Obama pledged during his campaign to invest $150 billion in clean, renewable energy. He has since reiterated the need for clean energy investment and committed to capping global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050 and to re-engaging in international climate negotiations. New Sens. Mark Udall (Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Tom Udall (N.M.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and others we endorsed also made clean energy a centerpiece of their campaigns.

Now that clean energy incentives are renewed, we’re focusing on a plan to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity.