Unfortunately, while the president admits we have a problem, he has no plan to help us kick our addiction. With Independence Day right around the corner, what better time to declare our Independence from Oil? With thanks to our friends at the Rainforest Action Network, let's begin with a10-step program for energy independence:
Step one: Admit that we have a problem, and commit deeply and truthfully to a national recovery program to break our oil addiction. Breaking our addiction requires humility and an unwavering commitment to change at every level of society. No one gets a free ride anymore, especially the world's richest energy companies.
Step two: Separate Oil and State Every year, oil companies continue to invest millions of dollars in political candidates at every level of the U.S. government. In turn, elected officials dole out more than $20 billion a year to prop up fossil fuel projects internationally.
A key step, then, is to reduce the oil industry's influence over public governance, and to eliminate government handouts for dirty oil. Visit www.PriceOfOil.org.
Step three: Jump-start Detroit
The transportation sector accounts for more than two-thirds of all oil consumption in the U.S. The average Ford vehicle gets worse gas mileage than the Model T did almost one hundred years ago. A fleet-wide average of 40 mpg—achievable using current technologies—would create 41,000-161,000 jobs in the auto-sector alone. Visit www.jumpstartford.com
Step four: Change American mobility
Buses, bikes, trains and walking all use less oil than planes and cars. In addition to each of us changing our own personal habits to drive less or not at all, it's also time for Congress to fully fund public transportation and for governments to prioritize mass transit, bikes and walkable communities in urban planning and neighborhood zoning.
Step five: Plug in America Plug-in Electric Vehicles are already getting more than 100 miles to the gallon and driving up to 40 miles without consuming a single drop of oil without any support from Washington—and the movement is growing. The City of Austin and six other American cities are already taking "soft orders" for PHEV's as soon as they're built. Imagine a world of fossil-fuel free transportation. See www.pluginamerica.com.
Step six: Start a rooftop revolution More energy from the sun hits our planet in an hour than humans use in an entire year. California is enacting regulations to build one million homes with rooftop solar power, generating 3,000 megawatts of power. Studies show that solar energy supports up to ten times more jobs than dirty fossil fuel energy. It's time for a national plan to mainstream solar and light up the new energy revolution. See www.energyaction.net
Steps seven: Green the grid A grid energized by wind and sun can power homes, recharge car batteries and pull the plug on unsustainable sources like coal and nuclear. Customers can save money by choosing renewable green energy over volatile fossil fuels. It's time to demand that your state steps to the plate. Visit www.newenergyfuture.com
Step eight: Wean to Green and Fund the Future The investment decisions of large banks are keeping us hooked on oil. However, some banks, including Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs, are proving that it is indeed possible to do well by doing good. Make sure you are putting your money to good use. Visit www.dirtymoney.org
Step eight: Adopt a "Low-Carb" Energy Diet A low-carbon energy diet will reduce energy costs and increase competitiveness for American businesses, lower emissions and produce clean jobs for workers. Current proven technologies can double oil efficiency again, for less money than would be required to buy the oil we save. Visit www.rmi.org
Step ten: TAKE ACTION TODAY Our country uses over 20.8 million barrels of oil per day, almost a quarter of global consumption. Freedom from oil will help our nation to create clean jobs, protect forests, make our foreign policy more just and more effective, and help to stabilize our climate. Let's get to work!