It's time for the oldest and dirtiest power plants to clean up their act. Fossil fuel-fired giants have dominated our electricity for decades and have been allowed to pollute without license. In order to stop global warming and reap all the benefits of clean energy, we must require old clunker power plants to meet modern standards for cutting global warming pollution.

The Gibson Generating Station in Gibson County near the Wabash River is the dirtiest power plant in Indiana based on carbon dioxide (CO₂) pollution, ranking as the fourth dirtiest plant in the country for 2007, according to a new analysis of government data released this month by Environment America.

Power plants currently do not have to meet any global warming pollution standard, meaning that they are unchecked contributors to global warming. In fact, power plants are the nation's single largest source of global warming pollution.

Indiana's global warming pollution increased by 15 percent since 1990, according to a new analysis of government data released this week by Environment America. Indiana also ranks seventh nationwide for the highest levels of global warming pollution.

More pollution than ever before isn't a record we want to set. It's time to take back control of our energy future. By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don't harm the environment, never run out and create new, local jobs.

In 2008, Indiana citizens saved 11.7 million gallons of gasoline by riding transit in record numbers -- the amount consumed by 20,200 cars. Transportation is responsible for more than two-thirds of our dependence on oil, and about one-third of our carbon dioxide pollution Environment America outlined in a new report "Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership Increases Energy Independence."

People are voting with their feet by driving less and taking more public transportation. Congress should listen to these voters and invest more in public transportation, which will increase our energy independence and reduce global warming pollution.

In Indiana, transit ridership increased by more than 9 percent above 2007 levels.

When you flick on a light switch, you probably have little more in mind than lighting your way in a dark room. The vast infrastructure of energy sources and electricity grids that supply the power for your light bulb is probably the last thing on your mind. But it's time to start paying attention, because where you get your energy from and how you use it has a significant impact on our environment and economy.

Right now, we're drawing most of our energy from dirty sources that contribute to global warming and raise energy bills for American families. In fact, if we continue to rely on fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas to fuel our homes, businesses and transportation, by 2030 consumers in Indiana will spend as much as $2,011 more on fossil fuels every year. We need to repower America with clean energy and invest in efficiency measures so we can keep meeting our energy needs without the pollution and costs associated with fossil fuels, while creating thousands of green jobs for American workers at the same time.