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America's oil addiction keeps us wedded to industries that pollute the environment, threaten our health, and waste government resources.
Our dependence on oil and other limited, outdated power sources puts us at the mercy of international politics and leaves us vulnerable to price spikes that hurt consumers and the economy.
A commitment to clean energy and reducing our oil dependence requires America to expand our use of renewable sources of energy; dramatically increase gas mileage in our cars and trucks; and make broad public investments in technology to create jobs and support sustainable economic growth.
Agenda for Clean Energy and Reduced Oil Dependence
Commit to a timeline for renewable energy – 20 percent by 2020
The U.S. gets just 2 percent of its energy from renewable sources, like wind and solar. We already have much of the technology we need to improve.
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Renewable energy development can create more than 355,000 jobs by 2020 – nearly twice as many as producing the same amount of electricity from fossil fuels, like oil and coal.
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Moving to clean, renewable energy sources would cut down on pollution, helping to preserve the environment and reduce many public health risks.
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Committing to renewable energy means putting many existing technologies to better use in our buildings, public transportation, and consumer products.
Increase vehicle fuel economy standards to 40 mpg over the next ten years
A 40 mpg fuel standard for cars, SUVs, and other light trucks would sharply cut long-term fuel costs. Consumers would save $63 billion nationally in 2015.
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Raising fuel economy standards so that new cars, SUVs and other light trucks get an average of 40 miles per gallon over the next 10 years would save more oil than we import from the Persian Gulf and could expect to get from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, combined.
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A 40 mpg standard could create more than 40,000 jobs in the automotive sector alone, raising national wages and salaries by $8.6 billion.
End wasteful giveaways and tax breaks to oil and gas companies
The oil and gas industry is getting $10.7 billion in tax breaks between 2005 and 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2005, ExxonMobil alone made a $10.7 billion profit – part of a record $36 billion for the year.
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Redirect energy investments to find and develop clean, renewable sources.
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The oil and gas industries are among the most profitable in the world. There's no reason to give out wasteful grants and tax breaks that encourage companies to drill in environmentally sensitive areas and prolong our dependence on oil.
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Oil and gas companies must pay their fair share of taxes on profits they make from American consumers.
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