Infrastructure comprises the basic structures and facilities needed for a society to operate, and as America’s infrastructure weakens, we have seen our society’s operations falter. From crumbling bridges to major blackouts, America’s infrastructure is outdated and desperately in need of repair. New technologies have transformed the ways in which we work, communicate and play. But the underlying support system for these activities—our infrastructure—is still overwhelmingly obsolete, sustained by technologies developed generations ago. Businesses run on electricity, and tomorrow’s businesses will need cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable power than ever before.

President Obama’s Economic Recovery and Reinvestment plan recognizes that by investing in a major upgrade of America’s infrastructure, we can both jumpstart our economy and strengthen it in the long-term. His plan will create hundreds of thousands of jobs today building infrastructure for tomorrow. Those who oppose this plan fail to recognize that it is timely, achievable, and overwhelmingly popular. Passing the House of Representatives yesterday with broad support is a first step towards implementing these important programs.

On January 8, 2009, a Gallup poll on public attitudes towards a stimulus package found the single most popular aspect of a stimulus plan is government spending on infrastructure. Americans of every party and every ideology support creating jobs by investing in our infrastructure. Last week, Republican pollster Frank Luntz’s survey found that an almost unanimous 94% of Americans want government investments in our nation’s infrastructure. Those polled rated fixing energy facilities as the highest priority.

Manufacturing our own electricity by building a new smart grid reliant on renewable energy will save us money and protect us from devastating blackouts. The blackout of August 2003 cost this country over $6 billion, according to the Electricity Consumers Resource Council. As our current grid ages, we can expect blackouts of increasing frequency and devastating effect. A new smart grid will prevent that eventuality.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan proposes we build 3,000 miles of new transmission lines to help tap boundless clean energy sources and and meet growing demand. Modernizing utilities with a new smart grid built in an environmentally responsible manner that safeguards our natural resources will optimize transmission and open new markets for domestic energy production, allowing our country to generate its own energy through solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. Imagine just a third of the $400 billion we spent importing oil in 2008 staying within our own borders, and in our own pockets instead of thousands of miles away enriching other nations.

Meanwhile, the demand from large-scale commercial deployment of a smart grid will encourage manufacturing investment, lower energy costs through volume and lead to the commercialization of advanced technologies. The President’s plan seeks to double alternative energy production over the next three years. Whole new industries will be developed right here at home and keep us competitive in the world’s clean energy markets.

The Recovery and Reinvestment plan will modernize 75% of government buildings and improve two million homes with energy efficient technologies. This will save us billions of dollars on energy bills. Over 50% of energy is wasted in the transmission process according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Rebuilding for energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, and fastest way to save energy and will employ Americans in jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.

These investments will help jumpstart our economy immediately and address crucial long-term needs to ensure that our economy remains strong. We need to let Congress know we support investing in new energy for America and rebuilding our economy for the 21^st century. This is not a partisan issue. Americans are showing broad support for the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act because they realize it as a needed down payment on rebuilding and repowering for our future.