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'Power Vote' gets young voters charged up

BY THOMAS BARKER, THE SOUTHERN

Monday, September 29, 2008 11:12 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - A small group of Southern Illinois University Carbondale students are aiming to better inform local voters on energy issues before they cast a ballot this November.

The local branch of "Power Vote" is part of a national campaign to promote awareness of America's energy crisis among young voters. The group hosted a public display of their message in the free forum area of campus Monday afternoon.

Power Vote is seeking 1 million pledges to "vote for clean and just energy" and has received more than 200,000 since the beginning of the fall semester. Traveling Power Vote representatives met with the local Carbondale chapter, numbering around 20, to put up small windmills and talk to students about pledging their vote to the clean energy cause.

Chris Klarer, an SIUC graduate and regional organizer for Power Vote, believes climate change is going to effect every sector of American life and said young voters need to think of the climate when casting their votes and becoming leaders themselves. Klarer hopes educated voters will engage elected officials and ask tough questions so energy issues aren't overlooked.

The group will also be attending this week's vice presidential debate in St. Louis, and members are recruiting as many people as possible to join them in representing the clean energy cause Thursday.

More information about the Power Vote campaign can be found at www.powervote.org.