Hoosiers Want Clean Energy Now

For immediate release:
June 14, 2010

Contact: Bobbie Stewart, Communications Director, bobbie.stewart@climateprotect.org, (812) 360-7750

Roundtable Highlights Clean Energy, Patriotism and National Security

[Indianapolis, Indiana] – As oil continues to gush into the Gulf and our country spends more than a billion dollars a day on foreign oil, it has never been more important to hear from those who will benefit from clean energy – Hoosiers.

Today, as America celebrated Flag Day, Repower Indiana, a project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, facilitated a conversation between Hoosiers and local veterans and national security leaders on how a transition to clean energy sources will create jobs, make our nation more secure and stimulate Indiana’s economy.

"The Deepwater Oil Disaster has shown us the devastating consequences of our reliance on oil,” said General George Buskirk, former Adjutant General of Indiana. “Worse still, we continue to spend a billion dollars a day to buy oil from abroad. It's time to make a transition to clean, renewable energy produced in America -- which will create new jobs and make our country more secure."

The roundtable, moderated by Pew Environment Group Representative Charles Deppert, featured Buskirk, Eric Dannenmaier, Associate Professor at Indiana University—Indianapolis; Sarge Visher, Lawyer; and David Galvin, CEO of Galvin Strategies, LLC.

The discussion, held at University Place Hotel and Conference Center, is a part of the “American Clean Energy Now Tour,” a swing of dozens of events across the nation showing urgent support for climate and clean energy policies from diverse communities including veterans, labor, and faith leaders. Partner organizations included Sierra Club, Pew Environment Group, National Wildlife Federation, Blue Green Alliance, Clean Energy Works, Hoosier Environmental Council and Operation Free.

“Opportunities abound right here in Indiana, to invest in clean energy,” Galvin said. “But we are losing this global race. China is spending almost twice as much as the United States on clean energy solutions. It’s time to take our patriotism a step further and adopt policies that will bring clean energy to our country, reduce pollution and create millions of new jobs.”

Studies have shown that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies can create up to 47,000 jobs in Indiana and save the average family $810 per year.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.