'Rocket Trike' Finishes 2,500-Mile Journey to DC

Bipartisan Support Found for '100% by 2020' Green Energy Goal

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Dec 07, 2010, 07:31 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, renewable energy advocate Tom Weis completed his 10-week "Ride for Renewables" at the Jefferson Memorial after traversing 11 states in his futuristic-looking "rocket trike." He is promoting 100% renewable electricity for the U.S. in ten years, a goal first proposed by former Vice President Al Gore.

"Almost everyone I met during this ride wants to see a modern day, green energy moon shot for America," said Tom Weis, President of Climate Crisis Solutions. Citing massive unemployment, energy dependence, economic turbulence and climate instability as top concerns driving this public desire, he said, "The solution is an American-led green industrial revolution."

Ride backer Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of Eaarth, said, "Politicians won't lead until we build a citizens movement powerful enough to challenge the might of the fossil fuel industry. That's what this ride is building towards."

Phil Radford, Executive Director of sponsor Greenpeace, said, "What stands in the way of clean energy for all is the dirty money in politics from the oil and coal industries."

Ride sponsor Lester Brown, President of Earth Policy Institute and author of World on the Edge, warned that emergency action at war-time speed is needed to save civilization from a deepening climate crisis: "During World War II, America completely restructured its industrial economy not in decades, but in months, and we can do it again."

David Blittersdorf, CEO of ride sponsor AllEarth Renewables, Inc., called for greater leadership by the renewable energy industries. "It's time for America's renewable energy trade associations to step up and lead by embracing this bold vision of 100% renewables by 2020," he said.

World Future Council sponsor Randy Hayes, pushing for U.S. renewable energy laws that would allow Americans to profit from selling green energy to the grid, said, "Let's shift from a nation of energy guzzlers to a nation of clean energy producers."

Weis hopes to meet with the President and First Lady, and key leaders of Congress, to share what he has learned on Main Street America. A video blog documenting his journey can be seen at: www.rideforrenewables.com.

Principal sponsor: AllEarth Renewables, Inc.

SOURCE Climate Crisis Solutions