Click here to sign the letter.

Securing America's Energy Future
An open letter to the 44th President of the United States
and the 111th U.S. Congress:

America is facing a long-term energy crisis, one which could become one of the most significant economic and national security challenges of the 21st century.  We strongly recommend that you attach the highest priority to developing and implementing a strategic energy policy that has a long-term, commonsense vision and the full attention of our national leadership.  Energy fuels our competitiveness in the world economy and supports our quality of life.  It underpins our innovative high-tech economy, resilient manufacturing base, bountiful agricultural sector, and courageous armed forces.  In short, energy, and how we use it, will define who we are as a nation for the foreseeable future.

Energy is essential across the spectrum of our priorities as a nation.  The security and prosperity of future generations will depend on the actions we take or fail to take today.  As a nation entrusted with global leadership responsibilities, we must clearly demonstrate that we both understand the complexity of our energy and environmental challenges and that we have the capacity and the will to take action to wisely address them.

Fortunately, we are a nation blessed with natural resources and a great capacity for technological innovation.  Over the last 30 years, we have cut the amount of energy needed to produce a dollar of gross domestic product by nearly one-half.  However, global demand for energy will increase by more than 50 percent between now and 2030 and by as much as 30 percent here at home. Meeting this soaring demand requires swift and effective action.  Failure cannot be an option where our energy strategy is concerned, but success will not be instantly achieved. Solving America’s energy problem requires a strategic plan underpinned by durable policy and fiscal commitments.

For too long, our approach to energy has been conflicted, contradictory, and shortsighted.  We demand more energy and complain about high prices, but we restrict energy exploration and production.  We embrace the promise of energy efficiency, but we are slow to make adjustments in our energy-intensive lifestyles.  We take the production of electricity almost for granted, yet we oppose the construction of new power plants and transmission lines.  We are betting on the development of new and transformational energy technologies, but we underinvest in the energy research and development needed to bring it about.

Any successful effort to enhance our energy security while respecting the environment must begin with consistent and determined leadership by the White House and Congress—but it cannot end there.  This cannot be an effort solely borne by a single administration, or even by the government as a whole.  This is a challenge that must be met through the efforts of the private sector, government at all levels, and our society at large. It is an effort that will have to be sustained for decades to come, and it will require American leadership on the global stage.

To succeed, we must reexamine outdated and entrenched positions, become better informed about the sources of our fuel and power, and make judgments based on facts, sound science, and shared responsibilities.

Extraordinary and consistent political leadership is required. We need to be persistent and patient as there are no swift solutions.  We need to resist the temptation to rely on taxes or subsidies as the solutions of choice to meet our energy challenges; instead, we must recognize that our strength lies in open and competitive markets if we truly expect to drive change and generate momentum for progress.  Certain government actions to accelerate capital investment, market transformation, and legal and regulatory certainty will be necessary to accelerate the development, demonstration, and adoption of new technologies. Foremost, we must rise above partisan differences and be united in our efforts.

America is unmatched in the caliber of its academic institutions, research laboratories, entrepreneurs, and private industry.  We have to unleash the real and unique power of America’s innovation to solve our energy and environmental challenges.  This is a monumental calling, but it is also a historic opportunity for America to demonstrate global leadership, create new American industries and jobs, and develop new exports.

We remain optimistic that America when challenged, properly informed, and led will successfully meet these challenges.  We strongly recommend that our next president and the 111th Congress commit to a strategic and comprehensive program based on the following clear and fundamental pillars. The nation’s leadership should, as a matter of national policy:

Aggressively Promote Energy Efficiency
The next best source of new energy is the energy we can save every day. Immediate benefits can be realized by increasing building efficiency and appliance standards, two areas with high energy savings potential. We must explore new business models that reward energy savings, especially for utilities and ultimately the customers. We must expand the suite of voluntary programs, mandates, and fiscal incentives for greater benefits of energy efficiency.

Reduce the Environmental Impact of Energy Consumption and Production We must address the impact of our growing energy consumption on the environment and climate, while recognizing that any approach must be both economically viable and environmentally effective. We must not set targets for which technology does not yet exist or which threatens major economic displacement. We must give industry a predictable investment climate and incentives for innovation in clean energy. Costs and benefits must be transparent to consumers. We must commit to a course that promotes global participation while considering the priorities of the developing world.

Invest in Climate Science to Guide Energy, Economic, and Environmental Policy
A deeper understanding of the issues and developing science associated with the environment and climate change will influence national and global energy, economic, and environmental policy choices. Balancing these priorities requires greater consideration of the complex processes driving climate change and increased attention to adaptation measures. We must increase our investment in climate science, which will enable us to adjust policies as scientific understanding advances. At the federal level, we need better coordination and collaboration across agencies for policy coherence and balance.

Click here to Continue....