Americans are hurting and it's no time for half-steps. We need bold, immediate and foundation-shaking solutions that break the chokehold Big Oil has on our economy and Washington politics, provide short-term relief for American families and long-term solutions for our energy and economy problems. We need the change and leadership Barack Obama is offering:
"Americans need real relief that will help them fill up their tanks and put food on their table. They need a long-term energy strategy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the renewable sources of energy that represent the future." -- Barack Obama, June 24, 2008
Senator Obama's Plan:
Provides relief for families struggling to pay their energy bills.
Obama understands there is no "magic wand" that will make energy prices go down immediately. His plan is to provide families with a $1,000 tax credit and stimulus checks paid for by taxing the oil companies' record profits. He will also close the loophole that allows speculators to game the system and run up energy prices
Increases the efficiency of our cars.
Obama fought hard in Congress to raise fuel economy standards for the first time in 30 years. Now he wants to give American automakers the tools they need to raise fuel economy standards even higher-to 50 miles per gallon. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.
Invests $150 billion over the next ten years in alternative sources of energy - wind and solar power, and advanced biofuels, in the commercialization of plug-in hybrid cars, and development a new digital electricity grid. This investment will create up to 5,000,000 good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced and will create the billions in new economic activity that will America back on the path to prosperity. The plan will also invest in America's highly-skilled manufacturing workforce and manufacturing centers to ensure that American workers have the skills and tools they need to pioneer the first wave of green technologies that will be in high demand throughout the world.
Requires 25% of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025 and increases energy efficiency in the U.S. 50% by 2030
This move that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs in growing industries, make America more energy independent, and dramatically cut the amount Americans spend on their energy bills.
Sets National Building Efficiency Goals.
Barack Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce
zero emissions, by 2030. He'll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2020 goal.
Attacks global warming.
Obama has presented a bold and comprehensive plan for addressing global warming which includes a "cap and auction" system that would cut our carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This approach will fight global warming while making sure polluters pay for the pollution they emit, so we can invest that money into clean energy, green jobs and aid to help consumers bring energy costs back under control.
Rejects drilling as the answer to our energy woes.
Obama knows that drilling off of our beaches and destroying our last special places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to pad Big Oil's bottom line won't do anything to lower gas prices today, tomorrow, or even a decade from now-something even the Bush administration admits. He knows that simply seeking a bigger fix isn't the way to end our addiction to oil.
Change America's Energy with Barack Obama
Senator Obama has been a leader in increasing access to and use of renewable fuels and in raising fuel economy standards.He worked with Republican Senator Jim Talent to pass legislation to give gas stations a tax credit for installing refueling pumps for E85 ethanol (a 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend). He also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years. And Obama introduced the plan that brought Republicans and Democrats together in support of legislation that gradually raises fuel economy standards.
Senator Obama has the experience, vision and strategy to transform our economic and energy future. He is committed to ending Big Oil's powerful influence over our economy and leaders in Washington. Senator Obama is ready to make the big changes and clean energy investments our nation needs to fix our economy and create jobs, make us more energy independent, to move us toward serious, bold and urgent action on global warming. Vote for Barack Obama for President this November. For more information, please visit: www.barackobama.com.
Paid for by Sierra Club Political Committee, www.sierraclub.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
