Energy bill will break U.S. dependence on oil and coal
Dear Editor,
Moving our country to clean energy with HR 2454 (Clean Energy and Security Act) will generate millions of new jobs, break our dependence on dirty oil and coal and reduce the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
HR 2454 will create jobs that include building wind turbines, building and installing solar panels, renovating buildings to make them more energy efficient and constructing the Smart Grid- jobs that can’t be outsourced. HR 2454 shifts U.S. energy production to cheaper, cleaner homegrown energy from the Midwest, not the Middle East. Iowa stands ato reap huge profits from wind energy. The Pew Charitable Trusts reports that in Iowa the clean-energy sector between 199 and 2008 shows 26.1 percent growth in green business compared to 3.6 percent in all businesses combined.
China will soon pass the U.S. as the world’s largest market for wind turbines. After doubling wind power capacity in each of the last four years, Chinese state-owned power companies are competing to see which can build solar plants fastest. So while the U.S. talks about becoming a leader of exporting green energy, China is forging ahead of us.
India is racing to create clean technology and Germany makes more solar panels than we do.
We need to act now and ask Iowa members of Congress to support HR 2454 so America can become a global leader in clean, renewable technologies that drive economic growth and protect our national security. We can delay and be left behind.
Phyllis Mains, PO Box 169, Van Wert, IA 50262
