Raleigh—Environment North Carolina called on candidates for the General Assembly and Congress to support policies to move North Carolina and the nation beyond oil and coal and toward a cleaner energy future.
“There is no question that we have the know-how to reduce our dependence on oil and move toward a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, state director of Environment North Carolina. “We need leaders who support moving in a new direction that puts our security, our environment, our global climate, and our children’s future ahead of the oil companies and other powerful interests,” continued Ouzts.
Environment North Carolina is asking all candidates for the NC General Assembly and for Congress to deliver on the promise of a New Energy Future by committing to support policies that:
Reduce Our Dependence on Oil through better transportation choices, clean fuels, and clean cars, so that we cut our oil consumption in North Carolina by 10% by 2015. This step would move the nation towards cutting its oil use by a third of what it uses today by 2025.
Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources like wind, solar and agricultural bi-products for at least 10% of all energy needs by 2015. Taking this step would help the nation derive 25% of its energy from clean sources by 2025.
Save energy with high performance homes, businesses, schools, and government buildings so that by 2015, new energy demand in our growing state is met through efficiency, not through dirty, dangerous sources of energy. Energy efficiency measures in North Carolina would help the nation cut its energy use by 10% by 2025.
Invest in a New Energy Future by allocating at least an additional $100 million annually into efficiency programs, research and development, clean energy infrastructure and transportation alternatives. At the national level, we are calling for a tripling in investments in these types of programs.
Clean energy advocates also discussed the benefits of these policies to North Carolina’s environment, economy, and national security.
“Many thousands of North Carolina workers will be paid excellent wages to install and maintain renewable energy systems,” said Dr. Edwin Cox of the NC Sustainable Energy Association. “Those wages will stay and circulate in the local economy to support many thousands more jobs. Millions of dollars will be prevented from fleeing our state to pay for coal, natural gas and petroleum.”
"North Carolina has incredible potential to be a leader in the production and use of clean, alternative fuels and to offer more transportation choices to its citizens," said Tobin Freid, Coordinator of the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition, a public-private partnership dedicated to increasing the use of alternative fuels.
“North Carolinians are ready to put American innovation and ingenuity to work to solve our energy problems,” said Ouzts. “We need our legislative leaders and congressional leaders to make those clean energy solutions a reality.”
Over the next six weeks, Environment North Carolina, along with its national network, will work to build support for the goals of the New Energy Future campaign in close state legislative and congressional races, and in more than 50 of the highest profile congressional races across the country.
