Our Statement of Principles
1. The U.S. has and/or can have sufficient technology and resources for a secure, affordable, and environmentally balanced energy system.
2. The U.S. is currently overly dependent on energy resources (primarily oil) from other countries.
3. We must pursue sound energy stewardship that leads to national energy security and/or interdependency with friendly nations.
4. We believe energy efficiency is both local and national responsibility, and requires leadership and participation from all fields and industries.
5. We believe the energy plan must be non-partisan and enhanced by the unique attributes / advantages inherent within each of the individual states in the union for the benefit of the nation.
6. We believe the traditional fossil energies are limited and should be preserved also for the needs of future generations.
7. We believe there is no single ‘silver bullet’ that will solve all environmental, climate and energy related challenges. It is therefore required to incorporate all energy sources into the overall plan combined with sound environmental solutions.
8. It is true that many scientists currently believe that climate change is caused by human activity. Others point out that ridicule, threats of lost funding etc to those that disagree have been counterproductive and stifled meaningful dialog. Regardless of who is right, it is nevertheless not too late to develop a comprehensive plan focused on reducing the twin global threats --- increasing global pollution and a looming energy shortage as two billion people are striving to reach the living standard of the industrialized world.
9. We believe the United States of America is well positioned to bring forth the new technology required to solve the world’s coming energy shortage. It is time for us to be brave and connect with people and organizations within our country that we have not connected with for some time. It is time for the industrialists, environmentalists, consumers, and innovators to find a common course to sustain the “Now” and to pursue the “Future” for coming generations.
10. We believe the challenge of energy shortage and reversing global pollution will either define the U.S.A. as a nation that lost its lead or as a nation that will remain among leader nations by first solving our internal energy shortfalls. We can only lead with others by remaining economically strong, maintaining adequate energy resources, capitalizing on the American spirit of innovation to clean up the fossil energies and by building a “bridge” to the renewable energies and technologies. A world that in 30 years or so is expected to grow to 9 billion people is waiting for our nation to participate with global solutions.
11. We believe nuclear energy should be included in the national energy plan. Other nations have surpassed or are in the process of surpassing the United States in the applications of nuclear energy. Co-founder of Greenpeace, Dr. Patrick Moore states (Link to book. I do not have reference at this time: “Nuclear energy is the only non-greenhouse gas emitting power source that can effectively replace fossil fuel and satisfy global demand.” Source: JMS, p. 197. Although we have not developed industrial nuclear energy for 30 years due to fear and the influence from special interest groups, we are still the most experienced user globally through our U.S. Navy.
12. We believe it is necessary for a gradual phase in and long-term tax-incentive system to allow the renewable energies to compete with the traditional oil, gas, coal and nuclear energies.
13. We believe that we the people have a responsibility to exercise faithful stewardship and wise management over the earth's resources and environment. We believe it is the responsibility of our generation to solve the core challenges that otherwise will be too heavy to lift later if we leave the burden for future generations.
14. We believe it will require innovations: Quoting Thomas Friedman: “We are not going to regulate our way out of the problems of the Energy-Climate Era. We can only innovate our way out, and the only way to do that is mobilize the most effective and prolific system for transformational innovations and commercialization of new products ever created on the face of the earth – the U.S. market. There is only one thing bigger than Mother Nature and that is Father Profit, and we have not even begun to enlist him in this struggle.” TLF, p. 243-4
15. We believe it will be the American free market combined with coordination with and among city, county, state, federal agencies, and assisted by a long-term tax-incentive system signed as law by Congress that will lead to a comprehensive national energy plan.