Background

It's time for a new energy future
For decades, government policy favored the oil industry and other powerful energy interests over energy conservation and emerging renewable energy technologies. But now there's momentum for change. With gas prices passing $3 per gallon, Americans are demanding cars that get better mileage. A June 2006 poll found 79 percent favor standards of at least 40 miles per gallon. With the effects of global warming showing up in our own back yards, 82 percent of Americans support increasing renewable energy. Even President Bush admits that America is "addicted to oil," and many in Congress are reconsidering their positions on energy conservation and clean energy. But real change will only come when our elected officials are held accountable for concrete actions that can put our country on a new energy path.

Real solutions for our country
We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Plugin hybrid cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas already exist. Congress should tell the auto industry to make vehicles that get at least 40 miles per gallon. And, they should support policies that encourage shifting away from oil as a transportation fuel.

We can harness clean, renewable homegrown energy
The wind that blows over America's Great Plains could provide enough power for the entire country. Lawmakers should require that 25 percent of our nation's energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2025.

We can save energy with high-performance homes and businesses
EnergyStar-certified homes use 30 percent less energy than other homes. Lawmakers should create incentives to reduce the amount of energy we waste so that we can cut our nation's energy use by at least 10 percent by 2025.

We can invest in a bold, new energy future
By investing more public and private dollars in new energy-saving and renewable technologies, we'll power our future and make America the world's clean energy leader.

We're calling on candidates for Congress and in the Maine Legislature to let voters know where they stand on the following:

• Reduce our dependence on oil by saving one-third of the oil we use today by 2025 (7 million barrels per day). Through improved gas mileage, better transportation choices and clean fuels, we could easily save more than twice the amount of oil we import from the Persian Gulf.

In Maine, we need to continue to implement and defend all pieces of the "Cleaner Cars" program, re-establish the sales tax incentive program for purchasing hybrid and other cleaner cars, expand transit opportunities including the Downeaster train, promote the development of home-grown biofuels for transportation and heating and establish boiler and furnace standards.

• Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources like wind, solar and farm-based bio-fuels for at least a quarter of all energy needs by 2025. America has virtually limitless potential to generate electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power. In fact, the wind that blows through America's plains is enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire country. We also can power our cars with renewable energy by using energy crops such as switchgrass and agricultural by-products.

In Maine, state officials should provide incentives for efficient building projects, assist cities and towns to adopt state green building standards and establish efficiency standards for appliances. The state also needs to increase investments in energy efficiency through the successful "Efficiency Maine" programs and expand the "Whole House Program".

• Save energy with high performance homes, buildings and appliances so that by 2025 we use 10 percent less energy than we do today. Dramatic improvements in energy efficiency are possible in virtually every aspect of American life. By building homes and offices that use less energy and improving the efficiency of appliances and industrial equipment, we can transform the way we consume energy.

In Maine, our current goal is 10 percent new renewable clean energy by 2017, but state leaders need to keep promoting renewable energy sources to meet that goal and ramp up renewable electricity production to 25 percent by 2025 and set a 10% renewable fuel standard for our transportation needs.

• Invest in a New Energy Future. By committing $30 billion over the next 10 years to the New Energy for America Initiative, we could triple research and development funding for the energy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.

In Maine, government leaders should encourage the Federal government to support funding for this important initiative and work with Maine Universities and research facilities to further Maine's homegrown clean energy initiatives, including the potential for plant-based fuels from Maine's forests and farms.