EC Wire

If you're attending a Rally4Energy this year, what do you hope to learn?  

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did in Richmond last weekend at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250. Even though a vibration problem kept us out of the hunt, it was still a thrill to watch the wild finish between Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin. What a great sport!

A special shout out to all you folks who stopped by our Energy Citizens tent. I hope a lot of you will take time to visit the Energy Citizens website this week and find out more about this exciting organization. Energy is an important issue that affects everyone - especially motorsports lovers – and we should all take an interest.

We’re working hard on the car and will be ready to go this coming weekend in Talladega, a city that holds a special place in the hearts of racing fans. Thanks for your support in Richmond, hope to see you at Aaron’s 312 at the Talladega Superspeedway!

(Here is a link to NASCAR coverage of the College Savings 250, check out the great photos. Congratulations to Kurt and to his brother Kyle for his first Nationwide Series team win!)

Nebraska's DEQ announced four hearings to discuss the Keystone XL route through the state.  We encourage all Energy Citizens to attend and learn more about the route and why this makes America and Nebraska stronger.  The hearings details are below.  Email us at Renee@energycitizens.org for more information.

Wednesday, May 9th from 4 – 7 PM at the O’Neil Community Center located at 501 S. 4^th St.

Thursday, May 10th from 4 – 7 PM at the Neligh-Oakdale High School gym located at 600 J St.

Wednesday, May 16th from 4 – 7 PM at the Boone County Fairgrounds located at 11^th and Fairview Avenue.

Thursday, May 17th from 4 – 7 PM at the Central City Community Room located at 1515 17^th St.

If approved, the Keystone XL Pipeline will not only provide our nation with much needed energy security, but will also immediately create 20,000 good paying construction jobs. All without cost to the American tax payer.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will soon be holding public hearings in your area to hear from citizens like you about the impact and benefits of building this important pipeline.  

Anti-Keystone XL activists are sure to show up in large numbers at these public hearings on the newly proposed Keystone route. Energy Citizens who care about this important piece of America’s future energy security need to attend as well, to show lawmakers and regulators that most Nebraskans - and other commonsense energy supporters around the nation – want to see the pipeline built.

Do no pass up this opportunity to learn more about the new route and testify on behalf of Keystone XL.

RSVP today and we will contact you with more information on how you can get involved.

I’ve been following the Energy Citizens movement online, which has been great and very informative.  But last week I had the chance to actually attend an event in person.   

President Obama was at the Ohio State University to deliver a speech about his “all-of-the above” energy policy to a mostly student audience. So Energy Citizens gathered outside to demonstrate in support of American energy. 

It was great to be with like-minded people, who are actually doing something to promote American energy.  My local Ohio Energy Citizens organizers are fantastic and provided great materials such as t-shirts and signs to make our presence more impactful.  

We came together to get the President's attention, and let people know about energy opportunities right here in Ohio are real and we can feel them in our hometowns.  We have the resources to help enhance America's energy security, and we have the people with the experience and know how to responsibly drill for oil and natural gas.  I had the opportunity to talk to so many people who had heard about the job opportunities created by natural gas and were excited to learn more.

Take Ohio's energy resources.  The gas and oil in the Marcellus and Utica Shale could be revolutionary to our state by creating jobs and spurring economic activity in areas that are stricken with heavy unemployment.

I think we really did make a difference when the President’s motorcade passed by us, which certainly made our presence worthwhile.  The potential for America's energy freedom is incredible and I would have liked to hear President Obama talk more in his speech about the Shale Revolution in Ohio.  But I know he’ll be back and I expect that he’ll increasingly appreciate the extraordinary economic growth and job creation it is bringing to Ohio.

I will definitely attend more events like this in the future, and I would recommend any Energy Citizen who is interested do the same. Come join us, every voice counts and there is plenty for us to come together and take a stand for. But we also need politician's that will take a stand for us in Washington D.C make sure you check Energy Citizens blog to keep up on who is looking out for us.

- Brian Kinnett