Provide short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump

Obama has suggested offering each family $1,000 dollars to manage the rising energy costs. This will provide a short term solution for American families but the end goal should be on increasing fuel economy standards and electric cars.

Create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future

There are vast opportunities for expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency in America. Through enacting policy to require renewable energy standards and creating incentives to conserve energy through weatherization and building retrofit, achieving the goal of five million jobs will be possible.

Eliminate our current oil imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 years

By reducing our dependence on oil, we will need to replace petroleum with other energy sources. Electric cars, geothermal energy and natural gas are all opportunities for diversifying America’s energy portfolio.

Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars – cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon –on the road by 2015 and build them here in America

America’s auto industry needs to be retooled to focus on hybrid and electric cars that reduce our dependence on petroleum – and the federal government is considering allocating $25 Billion in low-interest loans specifically to accelerate greaner, cleaner car development among American auto manufacturers. Obama has suggested that any bailout package for GM would be used, in large part, to build greener, cleaner cars. Jobs related to the auto industry are critical to our economy and we cannot afford to lose our place in the market.

Ensure 10% of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025

Renewable energy is an exciting and growing industry. Creating a federal policy that requires every state to have a renewable energy portfolio will spur job growth, investment in communities and clean power on our grid.

Implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050

Green house gas emissions are fast-tracking the earth towards severe climate-change. Through cap-and-trade policy, emissions can be monitored and targeted reductions can be identified.

These goals have implications for our country that will benefit both the environment and economic development. In the days since Mr. Obama has become the President-Elect, his focus has been on economic stimulus and jobs. We hope President-Elect Obama looks at his environmental platform as a solid place to start.