Today in front of over 400 of my enthusiastic supporters Al Gore endorsed my candidacy for Governor.
In doing so Al Gore said,
"I’m proud to endorse Bill Bradbury as the next Governor of this state... I am here to speak for Bill Bradbury and to tell you what I know about this man and what he has meant to me personally as a friend of extremely strong character, commitment and leadership."
I am incredibly honored to have received this endorsement from someone who has done so much to highlight the issue of Global Climate Change and really help define it as one of the challenges of our generation. It is truly an honor to receive such an endorsement from the former Vice President in a Democratic primary.
We were also joined on stage by pioneers in building a sustainable economy in Oregon. They were business large and small who have all committed to sustainable business practices and are examples of how you can do the right thing in terms of reducing your footprint AND make money.
In my remarks I asked
"Do we accept the challenge of addressing global climate change and the economic opportunities that come with it, or do we choose the status quo that will lead to a bleak future for our children?"
I believe the answer is we can and must accept that challenge and I laid out 4 very specific examples of what I would do as Governor of Oregon to reduce our carbon footprint, support sustainable companies and put Oregonians back to work.
- I will not be an absentee parent when it comes to the Business Energy Tax Credit. I will work closely with the Legislature to ensure that the sustainable industries that need the credits get them and it is tailored to maximize it’s effectiveness.
- I will implement tough and innovative energy efficiency standards, like the television standard adopted yesterday in California. I believe we could implement that standard in my first year in office.
- I will end the practice of using energy in this state from coal-fired power plants. It is our dirty secret. We think we’re a hydro state – but 40% of our energy comes from coal, much of it from an antiquated coal-fired plant in Boardman. That must end.
- I will fight tooth and nail, as I have already done, to not allow Liqufied Natural Gas facilities in the Columbia River or anywhere in Oregon. I will chain my Segway to a LNG tanker if I have to. It makes no sense to make a 30 year commitment to a fossil fuel source when we should be investing in renewable energy technology instead.
I concluded my speech by saying
"Now is the time for action. We know what we need to do. The question is will we do it?
Daniel Burnham, the famous architect and planner once said
"Make no little plans for they have no magic to stir men's blood."
Our plans are not small but neither is the challenge before us...As your Governor, with your help, we will put Oregonians back to work and make Oregon the sustainability capitol of the nation and address the greatest threat of our generation: Global Climate Change."
I want to personally thank everyone who took the time to come today and I look forward to earning each and every vote as the campaign progresses.
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Bill Bradbury is a nationally recognized leader in the fight against global climate change. As Secretary of State for Oregon Bill was its second-highest-ranking constitutional officer. Along with the Governor and Treasurer, he sat on the State Land Board, and he was appointed by Governor Kulongoski to chair the Oregon Sustainability Board.
For more information, please visit Bill's website at www.bradbury2010.com or you can follow him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/...
