As much as possible, I use public transport to get around.

But the thing about Massachusetts is that, a lot of the time, there just aren’t enough trains and buses that go where I want to go. And that’s when I just have to bite the bullet, hail a taxi or get in a car to get somewhere. But it’s hard to enjoy the ride when all I can think about is the criminal waste of energy I’m participating in, not to mention the air pollution. Given a choice, I’d rather deal with the sweaty armpits and rambunctious Sox fans on the T than the looming prospect of a depleted ozone layer or energy scarcity.

Enter Tesla Motors.

In 2010, we worked with Renew America Roadtrip and its Tesla Roadster at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) BuildingEnergy conference. We spoke with Michael Craner, co-founder of Renew America Roadtrip, about the ways in which the electrically powered Tesla Roadster helps people save energy, cut costs and enjoy a guilt-free ride. Not only does a Tesla car afford its driver the opportunity to save the environment and a large amount of money, it’s sleek, sporty design makes it a good-looking car worth bragging about.

Amazed? We were too. Check out our video below:

This is a great effort, and it will obviously make a difference for the environment.

So what’s the catch?

A new technology as well-researched and effective as Tesla’s stands as a threat to the outdated auto dealership model currently in place in most of the United States.

According to Tesla’s website, they have a few galleries scattered across the United States but none of these galleries are authorized to initiate a sales transaction unless the customer goes through a substantial pile of paperwork and contacts their California office for sales and delivery.

It seems unfair that the red tape and political buzz surrounding Tesla’s sales should restrict access to clean transportation for environmentally conscious consumers all over the country. There are in fact thousands of EV charging stations all over the country, and MSNBC predicts millions by 2020. A few of such charge stops recently sprouted up in our neighborhood of Porter Square in the parking lot by the Porter T Station. Basically, there’s no reason to allow an obsolete auto sales model to be an impediment in the path to a cleaner, greener America.

There’s no reason to be stuck in the past when technology is rushing towards the future.

You can change the status quo, and you can change it as soon as Friday. All you have to do is add your name to this petition. Deadline is Friday, June 5th, 2013, and 100,000 signatures are needed. Help us reach the tipping point—it’s so close!

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