New Voices in National
Energy Debate Seek to "Re-Energize America"
April 18, 2005 — By Natural Resources Defense Council
WASHINGTON, DC — Leaders representing powerful political constituencies not
usually associated with the debate over national energy policy today joined
forces to launch a new campaign to "Re-energize America." Reflecting
the growing national consensus on the need to reduce U.S. oil dependence, these
leaders are concerned about how national security, job growth, faith-based
stewardship and the Western way of life are affected by energy choices. At an
event today at the National Press Club, they urged government leaders to embark
on a new path toward a cleaner, more secure energy future for America.
"Our continuing reliance on oil and energy technologies of the past is a
serious national security challenge that threatens our economy, our health, and
our quality of life," said Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, USN (Ret.). "As
a nation, we can rise to this challenge now, with clear action and modern
technology to move beyond oil from unstable regions of the world." McGinn,
now a national security consultant, is Vice President for Strategic Planning at
Battelle Science & Technology International.
William Klinefelter, the political director of the United Steelworkers of
America, made clear his belief that an energy policy that protects the
environment also fosters a healthy economy. "We can create new jobs,
bolster our economy and reduce the trade deficit if we just make the investments
we need to shift to more efficient and cleaner energy options," he said.
Tweeti Blancett, a rancher from Aztec, New Mexico, spoke about how current
policies promote reckless energy development that threatens livelihoods and the
quality of life in the American West. "Northwest New Mexico has been
sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed and political buy-offs, and what has
happened to us is happening across the West," said Blancett, a
sixth-generation rancher who ran the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign in her part of
New Mexico. Blancett, who has become an outspoken critic of the administration's
energy policies, suggested that ranchers like herself should "form an
alliance with conservationists, farmers, hunters and fishermen, liberals and
conservatives, and Republicans and Democrats to force the government to make
sure that the energy industry treats our public lands responsibly."
Rev. Jim Ball, PhD., represented another important player in this effort, the
faith community. "Millions of the world's poor could die in this century
because of global warming," said Rev. Ball, the executive director of the
Evangelical Environmental Network and creator of the 'What Would Jesus Drive'
advertising campaign. In his view, making America strong by starting now to
transition to more efficient technologies and renewable forms of energy is
"the right thing to do."
"It's time to end our dangerous oil dependence. But simply subsidizing old
energy sources and drilling our last best places won't protect our national
security, our natural heritage or our planet's climate," added Gregory
Wetstone, advocacy director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), who
moderated today's panel discussion.
Re-energize America is a diverse and growing coalition of concerned individuals
and organizations that together reflect the fast-emerging national consensus
that America must reduce its oil dependence and be responsible stewards of our
nation's natural heritage. The best way to do that is to harness clean,
renewable energy sources and alternative energy technologies here at home, and
to vastly improve energy efficiency. Expanding our energy choices will stimulate
innovation, create jobs, strengthen our national security and stop global
warming. For more information, visit www.reenergizeamerica.org.
To contact or schedule interviews with any of the speakers at today's launch of
Re-energize America, feel free to reach Rob Perks at (202) 289-2420 or rperks@nrdc.org.