I went to attend the Green Recovery event today, hosted by Center for American Progress. The room was packed! Think there were more people coming to this event than last one (with Van Jones). The three featured speakers are: Gov. Rendell (PA), Thomas Friedman, author of the book "Hot, Flat and Crowded," and Carol Browner, former Administrator of EPA who is now a Principal with Albright Group, LLC.
A few notes from the event.
Rendell:
- "The big motherlode is still coal. We're truly the Saudi Arabia of coal."
- Talks about the new deal op-ed by Paul Krugman referring to FDR when faced with the price tags during Depression.
- The 5 things we must do: 1) Make tax credit for renewable energy permanent, 2) Fuel portfolio standard, 3) Federal investments into clean technology (mention about PA energy independence fund), 4) No more burning coals, and 5) Invest in infrastructure sensitive to help become green like freight trains, mass transit, etc.
- In the end, we still have to sell this idea (conservation, energy efficiency, and use of renewable energy) to the American people.
Friedman:
- Green is the new red, white and blue. If it isn't boring, it's green.
- After every book tour, his pocket is always stuffed with biz cards of innovators. This just show that there are so many people out there working on some ideas. Even the craziest green ideas.
- ET= energy technology revolution.
- Exxon is not your friend. They are not on Facebook. They don't have chat room for people to talk to them directly. So, he encourages the young people to get out of FB and move into the board room and speak out.
- Mother nature is about chemistry, biology and physics so we can't tell ma nature our excuse of not to do anything about climate change "sorry, we have a recession."
Heard it also there Gov. Rendell was asked twice by reporters about the potential of him becoming Sec. of Energy or in maybe getting in to some sort of advisory capacity for the White House. Another reporter asked Carol if she'll be heading to EPA (again). Both flatly denied the rumors.
It was not easy to juggle between taking notes and listening to the speakers. I could hardly read my own notes. However, because we're living on the Internet speed, CAP has the short version of video of the program (from their website).
Here it is, enjoy..
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