New Energy Solutions News

As the new home of WISPIRG's environmental work, Wisconsin Environment can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.

MADISON—The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) today launched a new campaign calling on congressional candidates to support policies to move America beyond oil and toward a cleaner energy future.

“There is no question that America has the know-how to reduce our dependence on oil and move toward a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Field Director. “We need leaders who support moving America in a new direction that puts our national security, our environment, our global climate, and our children’s futures above Big Oil and other powerful interests,” continued Speight.

WISPIRG is asking all congressional candidates to deliver on the promise of a New Energy Future by committing to support policies that help the U.S. achieve four key goals:

• Reduce U.S. dependence on oil by saving one-third of the oil we use today by 2025;
• Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources for at least one quarter of all energy needs by 2025;
• Save energy with high performance homes, buildings and appliances so that by 2025 we use 10 percent less energy than we do today; and
• Invest in a New Energy Future by tripling research and development funding for the energy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.

“Not only are the New Energy Future goals feasible, they are good for America, and particularly the Midwest – our economy, our environment, and our society,’ said Mick Sagrillo, Midwest Renewable Energy Association Board President. “With tremendous renewable energy potential and a growing clean energy economy, the Midwest will reap the benefits of a New Energy Future, powering us into the future and helping our country to prosper with homegrown fuels that will build our economy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

WISPIRG also released a report today showing the benefits of these policies to America’s environment, economy, and national security. WISPIRG found that achieving these goals, by 2025 would enable the United States to:

• Save 10.8 million barrels of oil per day, equal to four-fifths of the amount of oil we currently import from all other nations in the world.
• Save 9.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year, nearly twice as much as currently used in all of America’s homes.
• Save 900 million tons of coal per year, or about 80 percent of all the coal consumed in the United States in 2005.
• Save 1.7 billion megawatt-hours of electricity per year, 30 percent more than was used in all the households in America in 2005.

“The potential payback from these efforts is tremendous,” said Speight. “The result will be a cleaner, more sustainable foundation on which to build America’s economy for the 21st century,” continued Speight.

WISPIRG today specifically called on the candidates in Wisconsin’s Congressional races to support the goals of a New Energy Future.

"Every concerned citizen must contact their congressional representatives and local candidates for Congress to insist that we adopt this platform and get it going full force or our grandchildren will curse us for what we have left for them because of our ignorance and inaction," said the Rev. Dave Steffenson, Acting Director of the WI Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign.

“Wisconsinites want to put American innovation and ingenuity to work to solve our energy problems,” stated Speight. “By supporting these goals, Wisconsin’s Congressional candidates can help make the promise of a New Energy Future a reality,” concluded Speight.

Over the next five weeks, WISPIRG will work with State PIRGs and State Environment groups across the country to build support for the goals of the New Energy Future in more than 50 of the highest profile congressional races.