Lawmaker Calls for Clean Energy Revolution in New Video For Inaugural YouTube Town Hall Challenge
WASHINGTON DC (May 19th, 2011) – Not long ago, in a galaxy very close to home, Republicans voted to protect billions in tax breaks for oil companies and championed an “Oil Above All” agenda while cutting funding for renewable energy research and development. In this fight for America’s clean energy future and an end to our dependence on foreign oil, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) continues to use a number of weapons – passing legislation, chairing Congressional hearings and advocating on the House floor. Today, he draws upon a new power: The Force. In his video entry in the inaugural YouTube Town Hall Challenge, Rep. Markey enlists the help of “Little Darth Vader” to make the point that clean energy can drive down gas prices and create millions of jobs.
“The Force can’t lower gas prices, but a clean energy revolution can,” Rep. Markey states in the video that calls for solutions like energy efficiency and fuel economy to help meet our energy needs. “Rather than giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to big oil companies, we should be investing in renewable energy resources like wind and solar to create an innovation revolution,” continues Rep. Markey.
CLICK HERE to watch the video. After watching the video, viewers can click support for their favorite video.
Sponsored by YouTube, the Town Hall Challenge places short videos from members of Congress in a head-to-head online debate on issues such as the economy, healthcare and education. Viewers are offered the opportunity to vote for their favorite video in each category. Rep. Markey is the only House Democrat represented in the energy category.
Rep. Markey, a national leader on energy and the environment, is the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee.
SCRIPT:
“The Force can’t lower gas prices, but a clean energy revolution can.
Consumers spend one billion dollars a day to buy oil. Most of it is from dangerous locations. Oil is half our trade deficit alone.
We only have 2 percent of the world’s oil, yet we consume 25 percent of the world’s oil.
Rather than giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to big oil companies, we should be investing in renewable energy resources like wind and solar to create an innovation revolution.
Every time there is a doubling of the deployment of solar energy, the price drops by 18 percent.
Wind, natural gas and energy efficiency represent America's biggest electricity gains.
Boosting fuel economy for cars and trucks means less barrels of oil from OPEC and more money in your pocket.
Clean energy is not science fiction. It is here today. It is ready to compete with monopolies like Big Oil. It’s ready to go to work for America right now.”
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