There’s no doubt that November’s historic presidential election was exciting. But is our future promising? At this time of economic disability, we need hope, we need optimism and we need action in 2009 from our future leader, Barack Obama.

One of the critical issues on Obama’s successful platform was the “New Energy for America” plan that intends to create green-collar jobs and focus on a national goal of energy efficiency. According to www.barackobama.com/issues/energy, the plan will:

• Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump.
• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next 10 years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
• Within 10 years, save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
• Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars on the road by 2015, cars that are built here in America.
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

With Obama taking office in 2009, we can definitely expect a shift in focus toward energy. I’m confident that the president-elect will hold true to his promises, and so are others.

“The Alliance to Save Energy urges President-Elect Obama to make good on his campaign promises to focus on energy efficiency as a key solution to our nation’s — and indeed the world’s — energy, economic, and environmental challenges,” said the organization’s president, Kateri Callahan.

Securing America’s Future Energy President and CEO Robbie Diamond said, “Our new president has committed to bringing our nation together, and if there is one issue that is clearly bipartisan both in its urgency and its potential solutions, it is energy.”

The last time the United States was in such economic doldrums was the 1930s. Back then, we elected Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had a radical idea, the New Deal, to turn the country around.

At this point in time, there’s no way to say that President-Elect Obama’s plan is going to be as successful as that of one of our nation’s greatest presidents. What we do have, though, is an idea that differs drastically from the status quo. Obama’s plan takes on the issue here and now. Utilizing infinitely renewable resources like solar and wind puts us on a track where there is no end in site.

So whether you voted for Obama or not, it’s time for us to be supportive, active and optimistic on this paramount issue of energy and the environment. Only time will tell, but I hope that the next four years hold some pretty exciting — and necessary — opportunities for the green building industry. Tell me what you think.


Until next time,
Michelle