1. What is Energize America?

Energize America is a comprehensive and compelling 20-point plan developed by informed citizen activists to wean the U.S. from its fossil fuel addiction and provide the U.S. with Energy Security by 2020, and Energy Freedom by 2040.

2. What are Energize America’s goals?

By 2020, Energize America will enable the U.S. to:

• reduce both oil imports and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50%,
• generate 25% of our electricity from renewable sources, and
• create 2M new energy-related American jobs and save 1M ‘at-risk’ auto jobs.

3. Are Energize America’s goals realistic?

Absolutely, though they will require strong political leadership, sustained strategic investment and meaningful personal commitment. Transforming the American energy base from hydrocarbons to renewables will not be easy, but our economic safety, national security and public wellbeing critically depend on this transformation. Decades of failed energy policies have left Americans dangerously vulnerable to oil supply interruptions, especially for transportation, and overly dependent upon coal for electricity, which has ravaged the environment and contributes greatly to global warming.

4. What is unique about Energize America?

Energize America is unique by its design as well as some of its features. It is the first detailed energy plan designed by ordinary, working-class citizens and not by lobbyists or politicians. This means that the sole objective of Energize America is the protection of the American people’s economic, social and environmental interests. Some of the proposed Acts, such as the innovative Sustainable Energy Economic Prosperity Act, also do not appear to have been proposed by any of the other energy policy advocacy groups.

5. Why is Energize America needed?

The current energy policy, drafted primarily by industry lobbyists, fails to provide strategic advantage for the U.S., and falls dangerously short in reducing life-threatening pollution levels. The current energy plan continues to give billions of dollars of taxpayer’s money to the oil and gas industry, despite the fact that most of these companies are enjoying record profit levels that border on obscene. The current energy plan fails to acknowledge and mitigate the growing risks to our nation’s economy, national security and general welfare as a result of our fossil fuel addiction. Furthermore, the current energy plan fails to protect its citizens and the environment from the deadly and devastating effects of large-scale coal mining and burning.

6. Why don’t we just build more nuclear plants for electricity and convert corn crops to biodiesel for oil?

There is growing interest politically in nuclear power, which generates 20% of baseload electricity today, though no new plants have been started in over 30 years due to environmental concerns, safety risks and unattractive financial returns. But the biggest obstacle to greater nuclear power may be the enormous philosophical divide in the country over its costs and benefits. Energize America seeks to inform this highly charged and often clouded debate by providing for a ‘fast track’ demonstration project that uses modern nuclear design technologies and methodologies, as well as honest and transparent documentation of total costs and benefits – including radioactive waste disposal. Energize America also calls for significant investment in biofuels, but does not favor corn (which has relatively very low energy content) over any other biofuels source (such as algae, soybean or switchgrass).

7. How does Energize America differ from other plans being put forth by industry and special interest groups?

In terms of goals, Energize America is more ambitious than some, and more pragmatic than others, but in terms of policy specifics Energize America is more comprehensive and strategic than any we are familiar with. Some energy experts believe that energy independence is unrealistic for the U.S., yet Brazil has recently attained energy independence, and countries like Sweden and Norway are rapidly pursuing this laudable goal. Energize America lays out a clear and compelling plan to insulate the U.S. economy from oil price shocks and dwindling supplies, to dramatically and responsibly reduce GHG emissions, and to restore the U.S. industrial base through the development and manufacture of world-leading renewable energy systems.

8. How did Energize America come about?

The Energize America concept, and team, came about through the power of the Internet. Throughout 2005, an increasing number of online users, or bloggers, gathered at the Daily Kos web site (www.dailykos.com) to discuss energy and other topical issues. The Daily Kos allows comments to be rated and contributors to be recommended, which enables the most helpful and informative posts and the most popular contributors to receive greater visibility on the site. This dynamic process can instantly tap into an amazing breadth and depth of contributors, and made for a highly informed and deeply motivated virtual community dedicated to helping the U.S. achieve Energy Freedom. Energize America was written in six major iterations from September 2005 to June 2006, and incorporates expertise and feedback from thousands of people.

9. What is the ‘Daily Kos’?

The Daily Kos is a progressive political web site and blog that attracts well more than half a million unique visitors every day – a broader reach than some of the largest newspapers in the country. The Daily Kos, founded by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, raises money for progressive candidates, defines issues, rallies supporters, and brings scandals to light with an energy and effectiveness that few other media outlets – online or offline – have matched. The Daily Kos is a constant beehive of political activity, all day and night, and provides a pulsating forum of ideas, commentary, and analysis. Every post is open to feedback, every opinion able to be questioned, and every contributor is able to be rated by all visitors.

10. What can I do personally?

The most important thing anyone can do is to start thinking, talking and acting seriously about America’s energy future. How much damage to the planet are we willing to inflict to extract and burn oil and coal? How vulnerable as a nation should we remain in the face of dwindling oil supplies and rapidly rising global demand? How complacent should we be as a society when our elected officials for decades have failed to put America on a firm path towards Energy Freedom?