$3.22 a Gallon: Time For a Real Energy Policy

ABC News reports that average gas prices are as high as ever been recorded [1], after adjusting for inflation: $3.22 a gallon.

High prices for fossil fuels wouldn't be a big deal, if consumers had affordable, cleaner alternatives.

But we don't, thanks to years of conservative energy policy.

President Bush ran in 2000 by saying "we need an energy policy." [2] But the policy has been empty rhetoric and inaction [3]. Without any serious investment into renewable fuels, gas consumption has risen, along with gas prices [4] on Bush's watch.

As a result, we're squeezed -- dependent on dirty oil from abroad thanks to bad energy policy, made more expensive thanks to the global instability fed by bad foreign policy.

To get out of Big Oil's choke-hold, not to mention solve the climate crisis, we need new policies that create a market for renewable fuels brewed at home.

And on Capitol Hill today, Apollo Alliance's Jerome Ringo testified [5] to the new House global warming committee on how to do just that.

How? Invest $300 billion of public funds over 10 years, create 3 million clean energy jobs [5], and reap $306 billion back into our federal coffers.

The Clean Energy for Good Jobs Investment Fund would invest in research and development; support tax credits, loan guarantees and grants that build certainty in the energy market and attract additional private investment; and train workers with the skills to thrive in a green economy.

Americans have been at the mercy of Big Oil and conservative energy policy for long enough, and are crying out for energy independence [6]. It's time for political leaders to step up.