A new energy plan...finally!

This blog entry is mostly informative. I have included the energy plan that is included on www.change.gov
So, please enjoy these ideas and at the end I have included a few ideas of my own.

Energy Plan Overview

* Provide Short-term Relief to American Families Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.
* Swap Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Cut Prices.

Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years

* Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
* Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
* Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
* Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
* A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
* Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

Create Millions of New Green Jobs

* Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
* Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
* Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
* Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
* Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

* Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
* Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

Now for some ideas of my own. Nothing too profound of course.
I could not be more ecstatic to have a President that is finally pushing our country to be more responsible in our energy consumption (both usage and types of energy). My only concern is that he is continuing our off-shore drilling of oil. Anyone can understand that no "energy snap of the fingers" will suddenly and without-consequence drag our oil addicted nation away from using such an unhealthy amount of petroleum. However, I think we can move our country to try. I thoroughly enjoy the plan to reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 percent by 2050. This is unprecedented in our country, but what most excites me is the next point: "Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change."
If we take a leadership role, the world will finally feel able, supported, and willing to take environmentally responsible action in their own country-specific ways.
Do I believe we will accomplish these environmental and energy goals by the proposed dates? Yes. Yes, I do. It all starts with our own lives, our own conversations, and our own hope. Like most things in life, not much actually gets done when the people have no desire to get it done.