Every day I watch the news and learn about more job closings and our ever-increasing unemployment rate.

Thankfully there is legislation moving through Congress that could help turn things around by seriously investing in a new energy future. The World Resources Institute recently released a report showing that we could reduce our energy use through energy efficiency by 13 percent by 2015, saving consumers $6.3 billion and creating nearly 9,000 new jobs.

The bill is not perfect, provisions to drive renewable energy and efficiency should be strengthened along with requirements that big polluters pay for the pollution they emit.

The bill has been called the American Clean Energy and Security Act and a vote is likely to happen this week so every reader concerned about putting our country back to work should make a call to their congressman and urge them to strengthen, not weaken the bill.

Nobody cares more about our friends and family than we do, so let’s help get them employed while strengthening our nation by shifting to a new energy economy.

Nigel AlfordAtlanta, Ga.