In Al Gore’s address today, coordinated by the “We” Campaign, he laid down a challenge for 100% of U.S. electricity production to come from clean, zero carbon energy sources within the next 10 years. He highlighted the interrelationships of our planet’s climate crisis, the reliance on carbon-based fuels, and our economic uncertainty.
“We are borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that’s got to change,” Gore said.
Gore outlined several steps in order to meet the challenge:
- wind and solar must be expanded along with investments for innovation
- geothermal and solar thermal should be added
- energy efficiency should be prioritized, with household gains promoted
- America must invest in a Unified National Grid that would link every household and move cost-effective renewable electricity from places where the supply is vast to where the power is needed most
- Nuclear and hydroelectric power should be retained and expanded
- We must learn to safely store and capture carbon from coal and gas. Until then, these fossil fuels cannot be “clean.”
“This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers and every citizen,” said Gore.
