The Voices

Jerry Sorgento's picture

SUNSLATES Solar New Jersey debut installation on my home

I am a former aerospace design engineer. Three years ago I decided to reeducate and reinvent myself. I chose the solar energy industry, an industry for which I always had a passion, as my new profession. My goal is to make a contribution to our country and to our environment. read more »

Paul Van Steenberghe's picture

U. Maine Solar Vehicle Team

I started the U. Maine Solar Vehicle Team so that students and I could construct a practical vehicle that would run solely on renewable, non-polluting resources. The Solar Black Bear, a solar powered pickup truck, is the result. I see this vehicle as a first step toward reducing human impacts (through oil extraction and use) on the natural/biological systems of this planet. read more »

Paul Wright's picture

A Trip to the Hardware Store

There are many tasks that we do that do not require burning petroleum. Often when I need a small item at the local hardware store, I ride my bicycle to the store rather than driving in my car and using gasoline. I get some exercise, save a some money on gasoline, and avoid polluting the air with vehicle exhaust gases.
Our crude oil reserves are a finite resource that we will need in the future even if the oil is not used for motor fuel. Oil is needed to make products that we depend on, such as plastics and other organic chemicals. read more »

Ron Hock's picture

Putting my money where my mouth is...uh...on my roof!

I've had the solar water heater on my roof for years, but I've recently installed photovoltaic panels to offset my electrical usage. Excess electricity is sent back into the grid for my neighbors to use (until they install the panels on their own roofs...) How many homes and buildings could be outfitted for the price of just one new power plant (hydro, nuke, etc.)? And my greenhouse provides space heat for the whole house in the most low-tech way imaginable. read more »

America's Dependency on Foreign Oil

"It would be nice if we could produce our way out of this problem, but it’s just not possible. We only have 3% of the world’s oil reserves. We could start drilling in ANWR today, and at its peak, which would be more than a decade from now, it would give us enough oil to take care of our transportation needs for about a month."

- Senator Barack Obama
   28 February 2006 Source

Robert L. Borosage, Robert Loper et al. Straight Talk: Common Sense for the Common Good. http://ourfuture.org/straighttalk.

Energy Security is National Security

"[Bush’s] funding for renewable fuels is at the same level it was the day he took office."

- Senator Barack Obama
   28 February 2006 Source

Robert L. Borosage, Robert Loper et al. Straight Talk: Common Sense for the Common Good. http://ourfuture.org/straighttalk.

Our Energy Policy Weakens Us

"Our present system of energy is weakening our national security, hurting our pocketbooks, violating our common values and threatening our children's future. Right now, instead of national security dictating our energy policy, our failed energy policy dictates our national security."

- Senator Hillary Clinton
   23 May 2006

New Vision of Energy Independence

"It is not just money we need. Kennedy did much more than just write a budget. He wrote a new vision statement for the country. He created a national consensus that we were going to do whatever it took to reach that national goal. When young minds of a scientific bent asked ‘what they could do for their country,’ their answer was frequently to go into the space program."

- (Rep. Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks
    Source

Rep. Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks, “Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy”)

Progressive Opinion

The U.S. Chamber Needs To Get Its Story Straight

switchboard.nrdc.org — The U.S. Chamber seems to be going to great lengths these days persuade Congress that it really wants to help pass climate legislation. But a very different message is coming through its blogs, tweets, and unscripted comments.

Tea Partiers' Next Target: The Climate Bill

Mother Jones — Conservative activists are using a film called "Not Evil, Just Wrong" to fight cap and trade legislation. We watched it so you don't have to.

From the Party of "No," To the Party of "Slow"

climateprogress.org — Senate Republicans are demanding lengthy economic analyses of progressive clean energy policy, despite having spent careers voting for and against major energy legislation without such delay.

We Are What We Trade and How We Trade It

truthdig.com — In 2009, trade and globalization have transcended their “old economy” ghetto and become central to the “new economy,” health care and even the Earth’s very survival.

Clean Energy Could Create 850,000 New Jobs

blog.aflcio.org — With more than 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost since the beginning of this recession in December 2007, a new report says developing a clean energy economy in the United States could create some 850,000 new manufacturing jobs.

The Audacity of Nope

climateprogress.org — We’re spending $1 billion a day on foreign oil, money that could instead be invested here at home to help create 1.7 million new jobs, increase our security and lessen our pollution. What is the real motivation behind the Republican members blocking clean energy reform? Perhaps it has something to do with the $3,507,321the seven minority members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have received from Big Oil, along with millions more from utilities, mining and the national resource sector.

Rethinking Jobs for a Sustainable Economy

ipsnorthamerica.net — The possibility of environmental catastrophe has led many leaders, scholars and average citizens to reconsider an economy based on constant growth. It is becoming clear that people, especially in the United States, will need to consume less in the way of natural resources to avoid planetary peril. The million-dollar question, of course, is how the U.S. can move to a sustainable, zero-growth economy without losing more jobs. If people are consuming fewer goods and services, does that mean fewer jobs in the manufacturing, sale, and provision of those goods and services?

The Chamber's Mistakes

slate.com — The Chamber of Commerce pursued failed policies during the Bush years, so why should Obama listen to it?

Telling the Whole Story on Global Warming

Huffington Post — Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. Addressing this challenge also represents enormous opportunities for economic recovery and long term prosperity. But sometimes the big picture is lost when just a part of the story is told.

The Chamber's Pot of Horrors

openleft.com — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has had some bad days over the past few months, many of them related to the the organization's ridiculous positions on climate policy. These bad days for the Chamber are positive developments for people working towards strong legislation to curb climate change (or a public option in healthcare reform, or strong financial regulatory reform, etc.). Read on for a quick run-down of recent hits the Chamber has taken and why we shouldn’t celebrate too soon.