Energy News

                     
Raleigh, NC- Environment North Carolina congratulated candidates in the North Carolina General Assembly and U.S. Congress for supporting the New Energy Future platform to move North Carolina and America beyond fossil fuels and toward a cleaner energy future. 
 
“Clean energy was not just good policy, but also good politics,” said Margaret Hartzell, Field Associate with Environment North Carolina.   “North Carolinians want a new direction, and we look forward to working with members of the General Assembly and Congress to put North Carolina’s innovation to work to build a New Energy Future,” said Hartzell.
 
This week’s election results demonstrate that North Carolinians want their elected representatives to take action now to move North Carolina toward a new, cleaner energy future.  Winning candidates across the state and across the political spectrum endorsed the New Energy Future platform, including North Carolina’s Congressman-Elect Heath Shuler, who won one of the nation’s most closely watched races.

Environment North Carolina was joined by organizations across the state in calling on all General Assembly candidates and Congressional candidates in the 2006 elections to deliver on the promise of a New Energy Future by committing to:
•          Reduce our dependence on oil by 10% by 2025, this step would move the nation toward cutting its oil use by a third of what it uses today by 2025;
•          Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources 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 in North Carolina is met through energy efficiency instead of dirty, dangerous sources of energy.  Energy efficiency in North Carolina would help the nation cut its energy use by 10% by 2025; and
•          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.
 
Environment North Carolina organizers, activists, and volunteers worked to raise the profile of energy issues in North Carolina during the campaign, asking the candidates where they stood on energy issues at campaign events, debates, and by collecting petition signatures.
 
Candidates endorsing the platform came from across the political spectrum.  House Majority Leader Joe Hackney and Rep. Tracy Walker and Sen. Fred Smith endorsed some or all of the platform.  Congressional candidates endorsing the platform include Congressman Brad Miller and Congressman-Elect Heath Shuler and Republican candidates Ada Fisher and Shirley Davis.
 
In six state races both major party candidates endorsed some or all of platform, including:

• House District 34: Grier Martin and J.H. Ross
  
• House District 45: Rick Glazier and Alex Warner
  
• House District 54: Joe Hackney and Alvin Reed
  
• Senate District 12: Fred Smith and Sherry Altman
  
• Senate District 22: Harris Blake and Abraham Oudeh
  
• Senate District 23: Ellie Kinnaird and E.B. Alston
  

“We will need bold leadership to solve our energy problems,” said Hartzell. “By endorsing the New Energy Future platform, candidates has shown their support for moving North Carolina in a new direction that puts our national security, our environment, the global climate and our children’s futures above Big Oil and other powerful interests” continued Hartzell
 
More than 185 candidates in 39 states endorsed the New Energy Future platform. The full list of candidates who signed the New Energy Future Platform can found at
www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/energy/new-energy-future/candidates.
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