Energize America members have been continuing to work, in background, on trying to move forward an agenda for a sustainable and prosperous energy future. The effort is somewhat in statis, waiting for some action outside team control ... but time for some update, request for thoughts/energizing, and feedback on a concept.

So, this discussion has three items:

1. Brief update and heads-up.
2. Call for action and thoughts
3. Discussion of Energy Smart Communities Act -- and relating it to Pelosi's initiative to Green the Capitol.

UPDATE and HEADS-UP

Currently, the Neighborhood Power Act (pdf) (on our side, soon to be renamed the Energy Smart Communities Act (ESCA) is with legislative counsel for transforming from concept to actual legislation. A number of Congressional offices have contacted EA2020 with interest in this legislation, wanting to co-sponsor. When this makes it into the legislative process, we will be calling for help build up co-sponsors as quickly as possible.

The ESCA, as a reminder, provides for Federal expertise in financing and energy efficiency, combined with small Federal matching funds, to prompt energy efficiency/renewable energy bond programs for local government infrastructure around the United States. These bonds would, literally, pay for themselves through energy savings and produced renewable power. This act would serve to help make local government energy use more sustainable, provide a path for educating people across the country about energy issues, and improve capacity for energy efficiency/renewable energy programs in communities across the country.

The Bio-Fertilizer Production Act is somewhat behind the ESCA, with a less certain future in terms of legislative receptivity. This Act is, however, a real out-of-the-box concept for moving toward a more sustainal farm system, reducing fossil fuel elements as part of the food chain.

We are working with the sponsor member's office to move toward public discussion, with an introductory diary in the coming weeks -- hopefully in concert with or just before rolling out the ESCA as actual legislation. (Or, at least, when it is ready for recruiting co-sponsors.)

Call for action and thoughts

Everone involved with Energize America is a volunteer, doing this due to a passion to help change the nation and the globe toward a better future. Volunteer ... limited resources / energy. Burn out ... we got four great concepts to the Hill, two were well received, but there has been stalled action with the Hill office and, well, no new legislative concepts developed.

While there are some great concepts re
rail (example), in fact, little has been happening with EA2020 concept development in several months. A call to action ... please ... even go back to review Energize America: Getting Past Dayenu (enough for us) to see if there are ways you would like to be engaged. What legislative concepts merit running with? Where are opportunities for engagement? What gaps are out there where we might be able to help fill?

As one question, a serious question should be what legislation should "EA2020" back. Only legislation we developed? Good legislation? How do we determine what is 'good'? And what is 'action'?

Finally, Energize America 2020 v5 2006 (warning pdf) was a 20-point plan for changing America's (and the world's) energy future. Should we be revisiting that? (For example, in light of Richardson's Energy Revolution speech raising the bar on energy targets.) Should we be attempting to draft our concept for a holistic approach to energy in an effort to influence developments in the coming year? What in that plan was great? What weak? What was missing?

3. ESCA and Painting the Capitol a Brighter Green. Or, Energy Smart Governemnt Infrastructure Initiatives

The ESCA focuses on helping local government's become more energy smart in local buildings and other infrastructure (such as street lighting). Pelosi's initiative to Green the Capitol seeks to set an example from the People's House to the nation:
"The environmental challenges we face are as local as our neighborhoods and as global as our planet. The House must lead by example and it is time for Congress to act on its own carbon footprint. Today, we announce our intention to operate the House in a carbon neutral manner at the earliest possible date with a deadline of the end of this Congress."Speaker Pelosi, 19 April 2007
Are these not highly complementary? Should there not be an unveiling of the ESCA along with the announcement of the final Green the House initiative/plans.
And, in regards to Greening the House, should we not call on Speaker Pelosi to Paint the Capitol as Bright a Green as possible? What do you think? Does the logic stream hold up for combining these? Aren't these both about moving toward Energy Smart Government Infrastructure?

Re the Capitol, are there paths for painting it a brighter green than the latest information (that I've seen) suggests will occur? (Please note: this is great, just a question if whether this is what it can/should be -- seeking not to miss an opportunity.)

*Conclusion*

Energize America might have been somewhat lurking ... helps us be engaged by being engaged. And, be ready to end lurking in engagement with the Hill. When the ESCA gets introduced, help us step up to the plate to get co-sponsors to it. The ESCA will help move the nation forward, in real and tangible ways. And, we will all play our part in seeing that to reality.

Finally, please add your thoughts in comments ... discussion and interaction in the community is the lifeblood of Energize America. Help bring more energy to the effort.

Ask yourself: Are you doing your part to ENERGIZE AMERICA?