Al Gore Gives Electrifying Speech, Calls for 100% Renewable Electricity Within 10 Years

Written on 07/18 at 12:59 PM by Andy Posner 0 comments

Filed under: environment Renewable Energy

Gore Gives an Electrifying Speech
Yesterday Al Gore gave an electrifying speech (the full text of which can be read here) that challenged America “to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.” That’s right: no “reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050” or “generate 10% of electricity from renewables by 2020.” Rather, Gore issued a challenge that both captures the enormity of the challenges we face and forces us--all Americans--to devote our passion, creativity and genius toward creating a healthy, clean, and just America. Of course, meeting the challenge will require not only that the government provide strong incentives for renewable energy, it will also entail getting all sectors of the economy to radically change how they think about, procure and use energy. And while we already have all the technology we need to produce 100% of our electricity from renewable energy, we lack the transmission lines, control systems and policies that will be needed to make that a reality. Old jobs will be lost, and hundreds of thousands of new ones will be created. Where once rooftops contributed to the urban heat island effect and nothing else, solar panels will silently, poetically convert solar energy into electricity; off-shore and on-shore wind turbines will sprout up to harvest the breeze and, in the process, protect land by making it more valuable; in short, the impacts of shifting to 100% renewable electricity in a decade will be far-reaching, all-encompassing and deeply transformative.

Can Americans still think big?
The only question now is, have Americans lost their ability to think big and boldly? Have 8 years of the Bush Administration made us so complacent that we no longer believe in our ability to meet great challenges? I for one can say that as a young American, I am extremely excited and inspired by Gore’s challenge. I want to devote my energy to renewable energy, peace and prosperity. Just as Obama’s campaign has made so many Americans--young and old--feel hopeful about the country, Gore’s speech makes me feel hopeful and excited about the future of the world. There are simply too many exciting trends going on for us to sit back and feel there is nothing to be done about climate change, poverty and pollution.

Next entry: My Challenge to America: Don't Ignore Gore's Speech

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