Barack Obama, op-ed writer

President Barack Obama is in full media blitz mode, hitting the airwaves and the Internet to rally support for his economic stimulus package. By now you probably read his op-ed in the Washington Post. But did you notice how much ink (or pixels) he devoted to green priorities? Some excerpts:

This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending -- it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care and education.

In recent days, there have been misguided criticisms of this plan that echo the failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis. . .that we can ignore fundamental challenges such as energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.

Now is the time to save billions by making 2 million homes and 75 percent of federal buildings more energy-efficient, and to double our capacity to generate alternative sources of energy within three years.

And now is the time to create the jobs that remake America for the 21st century by rebuilding aging roads, bridges and levees; designing a smart electrical grid; and connecting every corner of the country to the information superhighway.

See a pattern? Green projects such as investment in energy efficiency, a smart electrical grid and renewable energy are an vital part of this stimulus--and the president is going to bat for them as as much as for health care, education and other top priorities. These green investments are just as important to the 21st-century economy the president is trying to usher in as are education and health care reform. It only makes sense that they should be a major portion of the bill the Senate will vote on soon.

Your senators need to hear from you before this important vote, Call your senators today (free of charge) and tell them to keep the economic recovery bill green!