Let’s Talk: Energy
According to Time magazine, this is what John McCain and Barak Obama have to say on particular issues.
Obama said he would:
• Set a goal that “in 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.”
• “Tap natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology and find ways to safely harness nuclear power.”
• “Help our auto companies retool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.”
• Make it easier for Americans to afford U.S.-built, fuel-efficient cars.
• Have the federal government “invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy — wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels.” Doing so, he said, would “lead to new industries and 5 million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.”
McCain said he would:
• Produce more energy at home.
• Drill new wells offshore.
• Build more nuclear power plants.
• Develop clean coal technology.
• Increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas.
• Encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles
Anon E. Mouse Analysis:
Mr. Obama sets a lofty goal. Done right, this could be similar to the Kennedy challenge to reach the Moon. “Tap natural gas reserves”? Does this mean more drilling or do we have a stockpile somewhere. Helping auto companies retool means throwing money at Detroit. That smacks of “corporate welfare” he has railed against. How will Mr. Obama “make it easier for Americans to afford U.S.-built, fuel-efficient cars.” Tax Credits? Subsidies? Rebates? The Obama administration would “invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy.”* Does the Federal government really need to be in the energy producing business?
Mr. McCain and others heard the chant, “Drill, Baby, Drill” during the election. As a short term way of easing foreign energy dependence, it might work. The main thing is that we stop sending collar overseas for oil and keep that money in North America. All the rest is admirable, but I’d like to see how they intend to do this (relaxing regulation or taxation on these industries.) Develop clean coal sounds good to me, but begs other questions.* I’d like to see Mr. McCain put a time line on his plan, as Mr. Obama does.
(*SEE ALSO: “Let’s Talk: Federal Spending” – where’s the money for this going to come from?)
Next Up: HEALTHCARE
September 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Obama: “… find ways to safely harness nuclear power.â€
Excuse me, Mr. Obama. We have been doing that for 60 years in the United States.
Nuclear is the only thing that will make a big short-term difference. I think we’re like to have a bigger commitment to nuclear under McCain. Yes, if I can get power for my 25-kilowatt electric furnace for 6 cents a kilowatt-hour, you can put it in my back yard.
September 13th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Both candidates are ignoring what I see is a central problem. Americans are grossly inefficient in their energy usage. On a per capita basis we use nearly double the amount of energy per capita as the Europeans. That difference is even greater when compared to the Japanese and the Koreans. Consider that… double the amount.
So we use about 20 million barrels a day. Some 55% to 60% of that is imported. Lets run with 12 million here. We get around 5 million from Mexico and Canada, so back that out and consider them to be close to domestic. 7 million barrels… 35% of our energy consumption. The Europeans consume half as much.
Now… surely we can find a way to reduce our consumption accross the board by 35%…. I am not asking 50% to catch up with the Germans.. or 60% to catch up with the Japanese. Just 35%… and our dependence on overseas foreign oil will go away without ever a well being drilled or an environmental regulation loosened. The Europeans can do it… the Japanese can do it. Their economies are doing quite well. They can produce goods at a fraction of the energy cost that we do… Yes.. their industry and societies are more energy efficient than ours. What makes us great… it isn’t our overall productivity and efficiency.. it is that we are just so darn BIG.
Neither Obama and McCain are really addressing the core problem. Of the two Obama is closer to the real problem but still has a long way to go.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Oh yeah, we need more Three Mile Island’s where man can’t go for the next 3000 years.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Emtronics,
You and Billy’s readers might wanna check this out…
http://www.threemileislandinfo.com/
September 14th, 2008 at 9:46 am
The pure coincidence of the Three Mile Island incident and the release of The China Syndrome created a stigma that remains nearly possible to overcome.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I meant impossible.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:46 am
People are killed all the time by natural gas explosions. Why no outrage over its use like there is with nuclear power?
Pretty damn hypocritical for the only country to ever use an atomic weapon in war to be so against nuclear power. You can put it in my backyard, too.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:51 am
whatever Obama said related to clean coal technology are exactly true.From my side i appreciate these plans but we can add some more modifications to clean coal techonology to get 100% pollution free environment.