Thirty-nine years ago today 20 million Americans came together to celebrate the very first Earth Day. Theirs was a call for increased environmental protection for air, water and land in order to preserve and protect our planet for future generations.
For me, this day was a continuance of the basic conservation principles I had been taught by my grandparents. Growing up poor meant that you took care of everything around you.
This year Earth Day will be celebrated by millions of people in hundreds of countries around the world and by many here in Colorado. Denver will be holding its 2009 Earth Day Fair in Civic Center Park. The focus will be on “Reuse and Recycle Programs.” Almost every county will have some type of Earth Day church service or community program.
President Obama’s new, comprehensive energy policy is a reason to celebrate Earth Day this year. The Administration’s plan recognizes that the economy, energy and environment are inextricably linked.
His plan will generate millions of new clean energy jobs, break our dependence on foreign oil and finally tackle the enormous challenge of climate change.
For too long, Washington has been beholden to special interests – politicians failed to make the tough choices, imperiling our economy, our security and our planet in the process. We became more dependent on old, polluting sources of energy.
And we missed opportunities to champion the clean energy industry we had a major hand in forming-so while we invented solar technology, countries like Japan and Germany currently outpace our production. We also failed to work with our allies to make meaningful progress on climate change.
President Obama’s plan for our energy future makes bold investments that will jump-start our clean energy sector, putting America at the front of the global clean energy industry.
The President’s commitment to doubling the nation’s supply of renewable energy – wind, solar and bio-fuels – in the next three years will create new jobs here at home and increase our energy independence, making us safer and less vulnerable to the violent swings of the energy markets.
Prioritizing energy efficiency and conservation will help drive down costs, keeping more money in Coloradans pockets. And by cracking down on polluters, we will improve the quality of our air and water and finally address the real threats facing our climate.
President Obama has argued, and I agree, that the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century.
By creating a stronger market for clean energy sources, we have the potential to create a whole new engine of economic growth. Here in Colorado we can put people back to work weatherizing homes, building wind turbines or solar panels, and manufacturing things that have yet to be imagined.
Since taking office 2½ years ago, Governor Ritter has made Colorado a national and international leader in the New Energy Economy.
Under Governor Ritter’s leadership, Colorado has doubled its renewable energy requirements for electric utility companies, quadrupled the amount of wind power on the grid and become one of the Top 5 solar-energy producing states in the country.
The New Energy Economy is creating thousands of new jobs, attracting hundreds of new companies and leading to innovative research and development at the state’s universities.
Under President Obama’s leadership, we are forging the path for our energy future. We are rejecting the false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy environment, and leading the charge for new energy and environmental policies that work for all Americans, not just the special interests.
The President’s plan recognizes the relationship between energy, environment and our economy and leverages American ingenuity to put people back to work, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and keep us safe.
This Earth Day that is something to celebrate.
Pat Waak is Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party and lives in Denver. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
