That Joe Biden felt the need to state and re-state that he has always been a supporter of clean coal in last night’s VP debate is almost as disturbing as the fact itself. There is a tremendous opportunity for change with next month’s election, but it won’t come overnight with the election of a president - it will require sustained pressure from our movement for years to come.

A recent Newsweek piece by Jeff Darman makes the case that it is time for our generation to stop asking what we can do for Obama, and start asking what he’ll do for us. A new generation of voters has propelled him into a very competitive presidential bid, and if we aren’t careful, he could very well win without coming through on his promised “change we can believe in.”

I don’t believe in “clean coal.” It is clear that all four people who may be president some time in the next four years do. If we want a more just and prosperous clean energy future, no matter which candidate gets elected they will need some education.

Sarah Palin can’t even admit that global warming is anthropogenic. (That means human caused, Governor.) The combination of a progressive candidate who believes in the mythology of clean coal and a conservative candidate who believes dinosaurs walked the earth with humans in a (albeit decreasingly) heated race shakes my hope a little.

Let’s not rest on our laurels. Power Vote is bringing hundreds of thousands of new clean energy voters into the movement. Power Shift 2009 will bring fifteen thousand young activists to start a conversation with our new leaders in Washington. Throughout 2009 we need not only sustained engagement with elected officials, but sustained action against the fossil fuel infrastructure that is imperiling our future.

Let’s keep bringing the message to our fellow Americans and politicians that solving the climate-energy crisis is our greatest opportunity. Van Jones’ new book on the Green Collar Economy is out next week and can help shift the mainstream discussion on global warming into the potential of implementing solutions.

The economic crisis of the past few weeks (past few decades, if you prefer) is an opportunity to re-examine the way we define progress. Imagine investing $700b in clean energy technology. We cannot accept any excuses from the thumb-twiddlers in Washington or in corporate board rooms.

Our clean energy revolution is on its way - but our work is far from done in realizing it. To everyone in my generation, I say rise up. Keep rising up. Call your Congressman, go to your Senator’s office and demand support for our clean energy future and don’t take no for an answer, take action against proposed coal plants and LNG facilities.

We don’t have time to waste.

Posted in Dirty Energy, global warming, Political Participation, Politics, United States, Youth Leaders