McCain and Obama energy plans
This entry was posted on 9/10/2008 11:44 PM and is filed under Energy Policy,Elected representatives,Global Warming.
The biggest decision we'll be making to solve the 4 biggies is who we elect as President in November. Not only will Obama/McCain shape domestic energy policy, they'll lead the U.S. in international agreements (or not). Global warming is of course a world problem.
Here's an article by the Associated Press that provides a valuable high-level comparison of their energy positions - Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans.
Unfortunately, neither candidate has a comprehensive plan that is going to make significant strides toward fixing our energy-related problems. Excerpts with comments in parentheses:
LONG-TERM VISION
Obama:
_Confront America's dependence on oil by developing energy alternatives and conservation.
(Fine goal and ways to get there....but what is going to drive change? As you'll see later on, Senator Obama is primarily suggesting billions of dollars in government outlays to "get things going." Why not start paying the external costs of our energy use via a federal tax shift, and let the MARKET decide how best to solve our energy problems?)
McCain:
_Break the nation's dependence on foreign energy by 2025 with more domestic production and alternative energy sources.
(more domestic production = more greenhouse gas emissions. In 10-20 years we'll look back on the suggestions to increase domestic drilling as the energy problem "accelerators" that they are. How is Senator McCain going to have "more alternative energy sources"? Billions in government outlays; same as Senator Obama above.)
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GLOBAL WARMING
(Both candidates are relying on the politically-safe, but ineffective, cap-and-trade concept. Not a good idea for one, two, three reasons.)
Obama:
_Mandatory reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, using a market-based cap-and-trade system.
McCain:
_Mandatory reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 66 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, using market-based cap-and-trade.
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It boils down to - You want courage? Are you willing to support it? Please take the time to learn the candidates positions on energy policy and encourage a federal tax shift. Given our lack of action to date, this election really is the big one.
by increased dependence on US oil 
Trade energy dependence for more oil dependence.