Bush Is Finally Feeling the Heat

Ethan Strimling, All Towns

(Cross posted at DailyKos)

I’m relieved that the new energy bill—which, while not perfect, is certainly a first step in the right direction—was signed into law. It’s good to see President Bush finally face reality and do something to help reduce our dependence on costly foreign oil. It’s just unfortunate that it took soaring gas prices and increasing global temperatures to make him see the light.

A lot has happened since I was seven years old. I grew up, got married, got elected to the Maine State Senate, spent a decade operating an anti-poverty non-profit organization, and even appeared on “The Daily Show.” With all that’s taken place in the world, the idea that fuel economy standards haven’t been increased since I was seven years old, back in 1975, is nothing short of criminal.

We all realize that there is an immediate need for our country to adopt a strategy for energy independence. Unfortunately, we’ve got another thirteen years to go before the increased fuel standards are fully adopted.

I’ve spent time in the Maine Senate promoting conservation, wind power and other alternative energy programs, including sponsoring LD 1379, which helps support community wind power projects. In Congress, I plan to continue working towards energy independence and reducing energy consumption.

Please visit my website to learn more about my record and stances on protecting the environment and promoting responsible energy policies.

We need to set green building standards to promote sustainable construction practices. We need to promote retrofits and emissions reductions among manufacturers. We need to stop subsidizing the oil industry and start subsidizing regional high-speed rail and other mass transit programs.

And, most of all, we all need to press the federal government to recognize that energy policy is not just about the environment, it’s also a matter of national security.

Unless we develop new sources of energy and significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, this country will continually find itself embroiled in military disasters like Iraq. We need to engage America’s best minds in a new “Manhattan Project” to unlock the technology and innovation that can be used to develop new sources of alternative energy. This will not only create thousands of new jobs but it will allow the US to be independent from unstable foreign energy suppliers and provide an environmentally sound way to meet our energy needs and reduce dangerous greenhouses gases.

It took Congress over thirty years to adjust fuel economy standards, and this is really just a first step towards a more sustainable and secure society. We need to keep the heat on in Washington to ensure that the gains we’ve made this past year are built upon without decades-long delays.

We can’t afford to wait another thirty years for progress.

-Ethan