Thank you for Supporting Renewable Energy Independence Day™

Renewable Energy Independence Day™ is an initiative of the U.S. Renewable Energy Association (USREA.org). The nationwide petition drive asks Congress for a declaration of July 3rd as a date where national efforts toward achieving renewable energy use of (50.4%), as compared to non-renewable energy resources is acknowledged as a goal. This initiative supports the idea that before the U.S. can truly have Independence Day on July 4th, the U.S. must achieve Renewable Energy Independence.

The current national percentage of Renewable Energy Electric use in 2015 (Approx 13.44%), represents a current Renewable Energy Day of February 18 (if a one year supply of renewable energy were used exclusively beginning January 1st, it would last until Feb. 18). The goal of the United States Renewable Energy Association, along with supporting companies and like minded individuals, is to have a goal declaring July 3rd as the nationally recognized tipping point goal in clean energy production. It is structured somewhat like Tax Freedom Day. July 3rd is 50.4% of a full year.

The petition is available at usrea.org and is supported by multiple National Alternative Energy companies, associations and individuals. The goal is to have 200K signatures available before July in a national social media campaign delivered to the U.S. Congress.

United States
In the United States, Renewable Energy Day for 2015 is February 18, for a total average effective use rate of 13.44 percent of the nation’s electric energy use. 2015 is the most current published data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Renewable Energy Day is the first day of the year in which a nation as a whole has theoretically switched from Renewable Energy use, from all sources, and moved to the balance of yearly energy production from non-renewable sources such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear, etc.

Purpose
According to Gerald B. Zack, President/CEO, USREA, “The purpose of Renewable Energy Independence Day is to provide U.S. citizens a metric with which to estimate progress in the use and deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies. The premise is that by comparing the relative energy use in a date reference, progress toward the tipping point of July 3rd can more easily be assessed.“

The actual language submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate is as follows:

Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader McConnell, Leader Reid, and Leader Pelosi:

On behalf of a bipartisan constituency of renewable energy advocates from across the USA, we are writing to urge you to support our initiative for a National Declaration of Renewable Energy Independence Day on July 3rd. With this declaration, July 3rd will represent the yearly tipping point of more than 50% renewable energy use in the U.S. in a manner similar to tax freedom day. July 3rd is 50.4% into the calendar year, and as such can become an ambitious but achievable goal.

It is our position that energy independence is critical for our national security, future job growth, and national sustainability. July 3rd marks a clearly definable target that is inclusive of the entire clean technology sector. February 18th is representative of 13.44% of the calendar year, or the amount of electric power from renewable energy in the USA in 2015. The Congressional Declaration will provide a metric that provides flexibility throughout the industry to find the best overall solutions to meet our increasing energy demands with clean alternatives in mind.

We also believe it is symbolically important to recognize all the public policy benefits of renewable energy, including a diversified energy portfolio, public health benefits, domestically-sourced energy, and others.

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to working with you on this important matter.
Sincerely,

United States Renewable Energy Association, LLC  Fort Gratiot, MI