We Defeated Osama bin Laden, Now Let's Beat Big Oil

America brought to justice a man with the blood of nearly 3,000 innocent civilians on his hands. The United States proved once again that we can do great things. Now we must make that same heroic effort to secure our energy future by embracing clean, renewable energy and defeating the oil, gas and coal industries.

It won't come easy. The oil, gas and coal industries have benefited from decades of tax breaks and this unfair advantage has given them plenty of money to spend on influencing politicians and the public through intense lobbying efforts and deceptive advertising practices -- now more than ever it seems.

In other words, Big Oil and Big Coal won't go down without a fight. The tactics they use to maintain the status quo will be every bit as dirty as the fossil fuels they promote. In fact, even dirtier, as the latest ExxonMobil campaign to promote the extraction of Utah's oil tar sands proves.

But the improbable defeat of Osama bin Laden gives me hope that the United States has the potential to break the chains of oil, gas and coal as our main sources of energy. The research and development of renewable energy -- wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, hydroelectric -- is our highest calling. It will make us a fierce competitor in the global clean energy race, increase our national security and protect the climate for future generations.

So let's get to work!