{"id":55609665,"date":"2006-10-06T15:07:45","date_gmt":"2006-10-06T15:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=55609665"},"modified":"2006-10-06T15:07:45","modified_gmt":"2006-10-06T15:07:45","slug":"its-time-for-a-new-energy-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=55609665","title":{"rendered":"It’s time for a New Energy Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

It
\n<\/p>\n

\nBackground
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\nWe are asking all congressional candidates to commit to supporting policies that
\nhelp the U.S. achieve four key goals:
\n* Reduce U.S. dependence on oil by saving one-third of the oil we use today (7
\nmillion barrels per day) by 2025;
\n* Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources for at least one quarter
\nof all energy needs by 2025;
\n* Save energy with high performance homes, buildings and appliances so that by
\n2025 we use 10 percent less energy than we do today; and
\n* Invest in a New Energy Future by tripling research and development funding
\nfor the energy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.\n<\/p>\n

\nAccording to our recent analysis, achieving these goals would have a tremendous
\nimpact on America’s environment, economy, and national security.\n<\/p>\n

\n* Reduce U.S. dependence on oil
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\nAmerica has the technological know-how to dramatically reduce our dependence on
\noil. By building cars that go farther on a gallon of gas, giving Americans
\nbetter transportation choices<\/b><\/em>, and using clean, renewable fuels, we can slash our use
\nof oil, improve our environment, safeguard our energy security and, in many
\ncases, save money.\n<\/p>\n

\nAmong the steps we can take are increasing fuel economy standards for cars and
\ntrucks, setting goals for plant-based fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and
\ninvesting in expanded and improved public transit services. Using these and other
\ntools we can cut America’s oil consumption by more than 7 million barrels a day –
\nabout one-third of America’s current oil use.\n<\/p>\n

\n* Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\nAmerica has virtually limitless potential to take advantage of renewable energy
\nto power our economy. The Great Plains has been called the “Saudi Arabia of
\nwind” for its vast, high quality wind resource. Similarly, solar photovoltaic panels
\nplaced on just 7 percent of the area currently covered by cities and residences
\ncould generate all of America’s electricity.\n<\/p>\n

\nBy tapping our renewable energy potential, America can dramatically scale back
\nits use of fossil fuels. According to our recent analysis, replacing nearly 25
\npercet of our energy with renewable sources by 2025 would allow us to save more
\nthan half of the natural gas per year in 2025 than is currently used in American
\nhomes, and 40 percent of all the coal America used in 2005.\n<\/p>\n

\n* Save Energy
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\nAmerica has vast “strategic reserves” of energy efficiency. Virtually every part
\nof the American economy has the potential to use energy more efficiently– from
\nthe appliances in our kitchens, to the windows in our office buildings, and the
\nmotors in our factories.\n<\/p>\n

\nCutting our use of energy by 10 percent would require reducing the amount of
\nenergy we are projected to use in 2025 by 27 percent. Recent studies suggest that
\nwe could cut our use of electricity and natural gas by more than 20 percent using
\nenergy efficiency technologies that pay back their costs over time. We could get
\nthe rest of the way to our goal by investing in tomorrow’s technologies such as
\n“zero-energy” homes that virtually eliminate the need for fossil fuels and
\n“green” commercial buildings that slice demand for energy by 25 to 40 percent or
\nmore.\n<\/p>\n

\n* Invest in a New Energy Future
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\nBy committing $30 billion over the next 10 years to the New Energy for America
\nInitiative, we could triple research and development funding for the
\nenergy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.\n<\/p>\n

\nSpending $3 billion per year on federal clean energy research and development
\nover the next decade would help us develop the next wave of energy efficiency and
\nrenewable energy technologies. Projects could include developing the next wave
\nof improvements in vehicle technology, investigating ways to store the energy
\ncreated by wind and solar power, and finding the best ways to effectively use
\nbiofuels.\n<\/p>\n

\nYou can help by signing our “New Energy Future” petition urging candidates to
\nsupport strong, specific clean energy goals. Then forward this email to your
\nfriends and family and ask them to do the same.\n<\/p>\n

\nClick below to sign the petition:
\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.environmentmaryland.org\/action\/clean-energy\/petition?id4=ES<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\nSincerely,\n<\/p>\n

\nBrad Heavner
\nEnvironment Maryland State Director
\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.environmentmaryland.org<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\nP.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this with
\nyour family and friends.\n<\/p>\n

oldId.2006100615074539<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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