Welcome

My name is Ron Flowers. I am the Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition. In my work I am increasingly reminded about the true costs of energy, what it takes to cultivate it (on so many levels) and what it costs to sustain it. My thought in creating this blog was to open a discussion about reducing the need for imported oil and cleaning the air. 

If we are not really ready to face it, we can't fix it.
"It" is our dependency on foreign oil and all that the journey from the oil fields of Saudi Arabia to our gas gauge at the pump entails.  "It" is our inability to look at alternative energy as a higher priority in our national dialogue. "It" is the stranglehold the oil company lobbyists have on our government. As consumers, "It" is our dependency on convenience and our daily, complicit, investment in the status quo in our own lives as we drive to and from work and to the grocery store or soccer field.
How much will it cost us to change and will the cost of change only come when the cost of crisis and chaos outweighs convenience?
We have had many starts at it and each time we stop/stall in the middle of the road.

Will we make the full trip this time?

Years ago, someone said that we would go to the Moon, and because of the nation's commitment we did. What will it take to get that same kind of commitment and investment?  
I am talking about a commitment that ensures today's children and those to come of an America that values the quality of life for all above all others. I believe America has the resources to make a difference right now. 

My question is: Where is the commitment?