This week, Democratic leadership in Congress will offer a compromise energy package that will include both clean energy investments and some expanded drilling measures. It absolutely must pass!

Folks, we are seriously caught between a rock and a hard place here!  As Al Gore points out, “[W]e face a stark choice: subsidize old, dirty energy or invest in new, clean energy. This should be easy, but the influence of the oil lobby is deep — they’ve already spent more than $100 million in lobbying and advertising this year.”

Unfortunately, that “Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.” stupidity is winning over too many voters and too many vulnerable and Blue Dog Democrats in Congress.  Democratic leadership has thus far been able to reject all the Big Oil driven “drill only” energy proposals, that focused too much on dirty energy resources that helps the oil industry but does nothing to lower gas prices, protect consumers, or solve our energy crisis and only provided lip service to clean renewable energy.

But now our backs are up against a wall.

The moratorium on offshore drilling expires on September 30!!!

Let me repeat… The moratorium on offshore drilling expires on September 30!!!

The Heritage Foundation has already dubbed October 1st as “Energy Freedom Day”. For on that day, all previously off-limits offshore areas will be on the chopping block, available for lease sales that very instant.

To prevent this from happening, we are going to have to swallow a hard pill and except a level of offshore drilling. It is the only way that we can preserve some restrictions on offshore drilling.

But a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

Most importantly, the Democratic package contains some especially strong clean energy proposals. The package includes significant investment in clean energy through a Renewable Energy Standard, improved transit and green building measures, and an extension of clean energy tax credits. It also protects consumers through a crackdown on oil speculation and drilling royalty loopholes, and offers low-income energy assistance.

Writes Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club:

“Speaker Pelosi has made a significant overture by presenting a package that includes both the clean energy provisions we need to move America forward, as well as a compromise that expands drilling off our coasts.”

“Faced with the chance to vote on a truly comprehensive energy package, big oil Republicans are already indicating they’ll refuse to support it.”

“They held Congress hostage and blocked measure after measure while gas prices soared. Now they want to stop yet another comprehensive energy bill that would deal with our energy crisis. This week, the Speaker will call their bluff to see if they really do want to vote on drilling as part of an energy package or whether they simply want to continue to use this as an election issue.”

“We are working to ensure that the final bill’s focus is on real clean energy solutions rather than expanded offshore drilling. While the final package will likely include compromise drilling provisions, it offers a chance for clean energy gains that would represent a giant step in solving our energy crisis.”

As Al Gore’s points out in a WE Campaign action alert:

“Meanwhile, tax credits for investments in solar and wind power have not been extended, and the growing renewables business that just made America the largest producer of wind power in the world, is on the verge of shutting down huge planned projects all over the country.

Billions in private investment, thousands of megawatts of new, clean energy, and more than 100,000 new jobs expected for 2009 will be lost.”

The time for action is NOW!!!

Call your Congressional representative now! (WE Campaign action page)

Call your Congressional representative now! (Sierra Club’s action page)

Or JUST CALL (202) 225-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your Representative or your Senators.