The time has come to turn the alternative energy dream into a reality. We as a country need to become active in realizing this goal. It is time for the Federal government to begin an initiative to transform every public building into a model of renewable energy and energy efficiency. We need a stimulus plan that focuses on only upgrading and modifying public buildings to ensure that they become as energy efficient as possible. We need to begin with public schools and universities, then courthouses, police & fire stations, correctional facilities, state & federal legislative buildings, and finally all other public buildings such as city halls.

Some of the many technologies that can be employed include photovoltaic solar panels for southern states, wind turbines for rural buildings, geothermal heating & cooling systems, solar water heaters, new insulation & energy efficient windows in older buildings, and many other efficiency technologies. School buses could be converted to run on bio-diesel, natural gas, hybrid electric, or hybrid pneumatic systems. Government owned and operated vehicles can also all be phased over to hybrid, electric, hydrogen, natural gas, and ethanol equivalent models.

The benefits of this program would be enormous. First of all, the upgrades would eventually pay for themselves with large decreases in utility costs over time. Another great benefit would be the increased number of jobs available, especially if provisions are made to ensure parts are manufactured in North America, and installed by local companies. An additional benefit would be the reduced prices of such technologies to private consumers and businesses; the government would absorb the costs of early adoption, and alternative energy businesses would be able to reduce costs sooner due to mass production. Reduction in government overhead could also be seen after energy savings account for the construction and installation costs.

The time has come for The United States of America to really work toward a long and difficult goal. Reducing our energy consumption, and our reliance on foreign oil could become this decade's Apollo program. Clean, renewable energy must become more than a talking point or a photo op; it is time to really act on renewing America's competitiveness and dreams of technological glory.

I encourage all citizens to contact their representatives and let them know you want real action on sustainable energy, with our government offices leading by example.