PowerShift West 2009 - Eugene, Oregon

What is Powershift West?

PowerShift West is an environmental and climate conference taking place at the University of Oregon on November 6th, 7th, and 8th. Registration information is available on our website.

Power Shift West challenges today’s generation to join a combined national effort to shift energy production from coal and oil to green energy technology. Students and youth are uniting to demand that Obama and Congress to pass a climate and energy plan by December that creates millions of clean energy jobs, ends our dirty energy dependence, and brings America lasting security from global warming.

Why now?

At the International Environmental Conference in Copenhagen America must emerge as a leader in the pursuit of policy that creates green jobs, reduces emissions, and increases investment in a future made bright with green energy technology. Obama and Congress cannot bring about this change alone. Luckily, more young voters turned out in 2008 than ever before, and nothing can silence the voices of an entire generation.

After 9/11, we volunteered to help those affected and we served in uniform. After Katrina, we spent our vacations rebuilding homes and served back in our own communities. And in ’08, we volunteered for campaigns, filled polling booth lines, and rocked the political establishment. Now we need to rise again and face another impending disaster – we must make sure congress passes a comprehensive climate and energy plan for America.

We must turn our schools into thriving centers for energy innovation, education, and workforce training. We will put America back to work weatherizing every home, installing solar panels on every roof, and slashing our nation's electric bill. Our conference aims to inspire and train young people to bring local renewal and energy independence to their communities. We aim to bring alternative transportation in local and regional forms to the Pacific Northwest, including a high-speed rail line from Oregon up into Canada. We aim to shift our energy prudction away from coal, towards renewable, clean energy.

And above all we must send President Obama to Copenhagen this December with the commitment of America to lead the world toward a fair, ambitious, & binding global climate treaty.

How can I participate?

Over seven hundred students, activists and energy professionals are expected to gather at the University of Oregon for the Power Shift West Conference. The conference will be an exciting way to exchange thoughts and ideas, network and visit with like-minded people to brain storm solutions.

You can register for the conference on our website (http://west.powershift09.org/register). You can also follow along on Twitter or by following the tag #psw09 on Twitter during the 3-day conference.

If the cost ($20) is not in your budget, scholarships can be made available. When you pay for the conference it funds further action around the country.