Hillary calls for Civic Responsibility in dealing with Energy Issue...

Sen. Hillary Clinton challenged Americans to take the same attitude as those who fought and lived through World War II when it comes to achieving energy self-sufficiency and ending global warming.

Clinton, speaking in a public forum at Seacoast Media Group, noted that those who have become known as the "Greatest Generation" sacrificed not only on the battlefield in World War II and later in Korea, but in their daily lives to achieve success. While she said she preferred to call the changes Americans should make to achieve energy independence and end global warming "taking responsibility" rather than making sacrifices, she said the attitude can be the same.

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During the visit to Portsmouth, Clinton also announced a new feature of her plan to address global warming: the Green Building Fund.

Through the fund, the federal government would allocate $1 billion annually to states to make grants or low-interest loans to improve energy efficiency in public buildings, such as schools, police stations, firehouses and offices, Clinton said.

The Green Building Fund will create thousands of new "green collar" jobs, Clinton said.

"This is a moment of profound change and challenge for our nation," Clinton said. "Energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, fastest technology we have to cut energy use and reduce emissions. "If we do this right, it can be a win-win for our economy and our environment," the senator said.

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The centerpiece of Clinton's energy proposals is a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund she wants to establish to fund alternative energy initiatives. The initial investment in the fund would come primarily from the oil companies that she said have been thwarting efforts to change American energy policies.

Ten billion dollars would come from charging oil companies a fee for drilling on public property; $20 billion would come from removing current oil company subsidies; and the remaining $20 billion would come from "a deal" Clinton said she would offer the major oil companies.

"We've been reading about refineries shutting down," she said. "It's intriguing to me that it seems the refineries always shut down in the summer time.

"So, here's the deal. (The oil companies) can invest the $20 billion themselves in the development of alternative fuels or rebuilding refineries, or we will tax their windfall profits."

Clinton said she can already see the "crocodile tears" on the faces of oil executives and them saying that she is going after the oil companies.

"I am going after the oil companies, and I think for good reason," Clinton said. "They have been a big part of the problem and refused to be part of the solution."

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Recognizing that global warming is an international problem, Clinton said the U.S. must re-establish its connections with emerging countries, such as India and China.

"We must reignite our global connections," she said. "We can't sit here in the United States and work on global warming by ourselves."

The rise in asthma cases and other chronic ailments are also tied to energy policy and global warming, the senator said.

"There are three things that influence our health: genetics, behavior and environment," she said. "After (what is happening to those who worked at Ground Zero following) 9/11, how anyone can argue that what we breathe does not affect us is something I just can't understand."