Aloha Jack,

In 2016, I travelled to Standing Rock with thousands of veterans from across the country to remind the world, “mni wiconi,” water is life. The water source for this tribe and surrounding communities was being threatened by the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

Despite the voices of thousands of water protectors, the Dakota Access Pipeline was pushed through. But that’s not how the story of Standing Rock ends. 

This weekend, I went back to Standing Rock for the first time since 2016. It was amazing to be there and witness the historic progress that has been made. My friend Cody TwoBears led the charge in building the Cannonball Community Solar Farm — the largest solar farm in North Dakota. And they have plans to expand so they can provide renewable energy for the community, and create jobs and opportunities for young people to get trained to work in one of the fastest growing, skilled industries in our country today.

Just as Standing Rock started from a small gathering of protectors and became a national movement, I look forward to supporting community solar farms like the one at Cannonball and other projects around the nation as we work towards a nationwide and worldwide movement for 100% clean energy. 

As president, I will lead us toward a future that transitions us away from our dependence on fossil fuels and toward a 100% renewable energy economy. I will redirect the billions spent every year subsidizing the fossil fuel industry into renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal.

Every American is guaranteed rights that are enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Central to these rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is having clean air to breathe and clean water to drink — essential elements core to the existence of every human being that we must protect. 

Just as leaders in Standing Rock formed a coalition to make this solar farm possible, we all must come together to usher in a new century that protects our precious resources and provides for good-paying jobs in a thriving, green energy economy.  

I love our country. I love our freedoms. I love our people. I love our planet. When you love, you do all that you can to protect that which you love. This is why I’m running for President. 
 
With aloha,

Tulsi