FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2008CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384David Willett, 202.675.6698  In Their Own Words:Candidates on Clean Energy in Election 2008  Washington, D.C.--In 2006, the wind turbine became the star of campaign adsand pro-environment candidates surged to victory using messages focused onthe transformative power of the clean energy economy. This trend hascontinued in 2008, with energy policy occupying a central role in theelection. Candidates have continued to tout the economic potential of theclean energy future, while decrying the chokehold that Big Oil has on ourpolitics, economy, and national security. As the economic crisistransformed the political landscape, it has become increasingly clear topoliticians and voters alike that solutions to our economic and energycrises are one and the same: create millions of new jobs, rebuild themiddle class, fight global warming, secure our nation, and put America backto work by investing in clean energy.  Barack Obama:  "Energy we have to deal with today, because you're paying $3.80 here inNashville for gasoline, and it could go up. And it's a strain on yourfamily budget, but it's also bad for our national security, becausecountries like Russia and Venezuela and, you know, in some cases, countrieslike Iran, are benefiting from higher oil prices.  "So we've got to deal with that right away. That's why I've called for aninvestment of $15 billion a year over 10 years. Our goal should be, in 10year's time, we are free of dependence on Middle Eastern oil.  And we can do it. Now, when JFK said we're going to the Moon in 10 years,nobody was sure how to do it, but we understood that, if the Americanpeople make a decision to do something, it gets done. So that would bepriority number one.-Second Presidential Debate, 10/7/08  U.S. Senate:  Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire:  "In the Senate, I will fight to end the billions in tax breaks to Big Oiland use that money to make an unwavering commitment to the development ofalternative and renewable energy sources. New energy investment will notonly end our dependence on foreign oil, but it will create 21st centuryjobs that will help us continue to be a leader in the global economy. Iwant those jobs here in the United States and here in New Hampshire."-Union Leader, 9/16/08  Kay Hagan, North Carolina:  "Energy cost is the first thing that people mention to me every day. ... Weneed to become the state that says, 'Alternative energy sources (are)important to us.' We need to be helping people with manufacturing solarpanels and windmill parts, creating those jobs in North Carolina. Once wedo that, those jobs aren't going to be outsourced."-Greensboro News & Record, 8/10/08  Bruce Lunsford, Kentucky:  "My eight-point energy plan includes an emphasis on developing clean andrenewable energy. Both of the major presidential candidates have said this,and even T. Boone Pickens, the conservative billionaire Texas oilman, hassaid this is one problem we can't drill our way out of."-Lexington Herald Leader, 8/4/08  Mark Udall, Colorado:  "Oil at $120 a barrel is strangling our economy. We need to stop talkingabout our addiction and do something about it. We should put aside red andblue and be green. Being green is about the most patriotic thing we cando."-Rocky Mountain News, 5/10/2008  Jeff Merkley, Oregon:  "We need to scrap the energy policy written by the oil companies and endAmerica's dependence on foreign oil. We need to invest in renewable energyproduction, promote energy efficiency and support research and development.This is critical for our national security, to combat global warming and tocreate green-collar jobs."-The Oregonian, 10/12/08  U.S. House of Representatives:  Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, First District of New Hampshire:  "Our country's dependence on oil is a threat to our national security, ahazard to our precious environment and a burden to millions of hardworkingAmericans who are struggling to fill the tank. The American people deservemore than empty promises and false outrage. They deserve a smart,aggressive, responsible plan that actively puts our country on the courseto true energy independence."-Union Leader, 9/18/08  Martin Heinrich, First District of New Mexico:  "The long term solution to this: We start now getting serious aboutrenewables and getting serious about efficiency and getting serious aboutthe way cars are powered. In the long run we need to end our addiction tooil and switch to clean sources of energy."-Albuquerque Journal, 5/18/08  Ashwin Madia, Third District of Minnesota:  "People want to see this economy get on track again. Some of the ideas thatwe've been talking about is to help form a new direction for our economy.First of all, to invest in a renewable energy economy - things like windand solar and bio-fuels - and provide ready alternatives to oil, that willhelp bring the prices of oil down."-India Abroad, 8/15/08  Frank Kratovil, First District of Maryland:  "The investments that are made today in alternative energies, such as wind,solar and fuel cell technology, will stimulate more progress and ultimatelypay great dividends."-Daily Times, 9/21/08  Linda Stender, Seventh District of New Jersey:  "I think [offshore drilling]'s a misplaced priority, because what we oughtto be doing is investing in and developing new resources and newtechnologies which have been ignored at the expense of giving the taxbreaks to the big oil companies."-Home News Tribune, 5/27/08  Mark Schauer, Seventh District of Michigan:  "Energy policy is economic policy. It's not just the auto industry, butit's building solar panels and windmill turbines and biomass andwater-power technology and many others."-Battle Creek Enquirer, 10/2/08  Dina Titus, Third District of Nevada:  "We have the wind, we have the sun, we have the geothermal. We shoulddevelop it, and by developing it, we will create new good paying, good jobswith good benefits."-KTNV TV, 9/18/08  Mary Jo Kilroy, Fifteenth District of Ohio:  "I think it's so vital that we come together as a country to address thesetwin issues of energy and global warming. For too long congress has beengridlocked on global warming. Partisan divide has held up any meaningfulmovement to establish long-term energy security - a long term plan for theenergy future for our country."-PolitickerOH, 6/23/08  # # #
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