What The Candidates Said About Energy

grist.org

The third presidential debate yielded nothing new from Barack Obama or John McCain on climate or energy policy, but both candidates pointed to an environmental issue to demonstrate their independence from their respective parties.

When McCain challenged Obama to name a major issue on which he's differed with Democratic leaders, Obama mentioned "clean coal," among other things: "I support clean coal technology. Doesn't make me popular with environmentalists."

McCain, in trying to distinguish himself from President Bush, said, "I have disagreed with leaders of my own party," and took credit for "bringing climate change to the floor of the Senate for the first time."

At one point, moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS said, "Let's talk about energy and climate control," but he then dropped the climate component and asked, "Would each of you give us a number, a specific number of how much you believe we can reduce our foreign oil imports during your first term?"

Both candidates gave plodding and at times off-topic answers.

Said McCain, "I think we can, for all intents and purposes, eliminate our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and Venezuelan oil. Canadian oil is fine." He went on to promote his nuclear power plan, arguing that only "extreme environmentalists" have concerns about nuclear safety, and said, "So the point is with nuclear power, with wind, tide, solar, natural gas, with development of flex fuel, hybrid, clean coal technology, clean coal technology is key in the heartland of America that's hurting rather badly."

McCain finally concluded that "we can easily, within seven, eight, 10 years, if we put our minds to it, we can eliminate our dependence on the places in the world that harm our national security if we don't achieve our independence."

Obama said it could be done in a decade. "I think that in 10 years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela. I think that's about a realistic time frame. And this is the most important issue that our future economy is going to face. Obviously, we've got an immediate crisis right now. But nothing is more important than us no longer borrowing $700 billion or more from China and sending it to Saudi Arabia. It's mortgaging our children's future." He then repeated his energy talking points, saying that we need to expand domestic oil production but that we can't drill ourselves out of our energy problem, so we need to put "resources into solar, wind, biodiesel, geothermal" and build efficient cars in the U.S.

It's the Economy, Stupid -- But Let's Talk about Energy

As in the two previous debates, the candidates mentioned energy concerns repeatedly as they discussed the economy -- even when energy had no logical bearing on the questions asked.

In responding to a question about balancing the budget in four years, McCain said, "We can do it with this kind of job creation of energy independence." And later, in discussing how he would cut government spending: "Energy independence -- We have to have nuclear power. We have to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don't like us very much. It's wind, tide, solar, natural gas, nuclear, offshore drilling, which Sen. Obama has opposed. And the point is that we become energy independent and we will create millions of jobs."

Said Obama, "We've got some long-term challenges in this economy that have to be dealt with. We've got to fix our energy policy that's giving our wealth away." And he picked up the thread later: "If we invest in a serious energy policy, that will save in the amount of money we're borrowing from China to send to Saudi Arabia."

Obama indicated that raising taxes on the oil industry could benefit average Americans: "ExxonMobil, which made $12 billion, record profits, over the last several quarters, they can afford to pay a little more so that ordinary families who are hurting out there."

Obama also brought up the auto industry, attempting to balance sympathy about economic woes with tough talk about the need for more efficient vehicles:

When I talked about the automakers, they are obviously getting hammered right now. They were already having a tough time because of high gas prices. And now with the financial crisis, car dealerships are closing and people can't get car loans. That's why I think it's important for us to get loan guarantees to the automakers, but we do have to hold them responsible as well to start producing the highly fuel-efficient cars of the future.

And Detroit had dragged its feet too long in terms of getting that done. It's going to be one of my highest priorities because transportation accounts for about 30 percent of our total energy consumption. If we can get that right, then we can move in a direction not only of energy independence, but we can create 5 million new jobs all across America, including in the heartland where we can retool some of these plants to make these highly fuel-efficient cars and also to make wind turbines and solar panels, the kinds of clean energy approaches that should be the driver of our economy for the next century.

Both candidates mentioned energy policy in response to a question about their running mates. Obama said Joe Biden will "make sure that we finally get serious about energy independence, something that has been languishing in Washington for 30 years." McCain said that when Sarah Palin was the head of the Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission, "she saw corruption, she resigned and said, 'This can't go on.' ... She negotiated with the oil companies and faced them down, a $40 billion pipeline of natural gas that's going to relieve the energy needs of the United -- of what they call the lower 48."

In short, the final debate didn't bear much new fruit on energy, climate, or any other environmental issue. And yet, even as the country is in the midst economic turmoil, both candidates wove energy issues into many of their responses. Might this mean that -- regardless of the outcome on Nov. 4 -- energy concerns will finally get the attention they deserve in the next administration?

Comments

[mamacat]

I am glad to hear both candidates say that working toward energy independence will help our economy, but when I see that McCain continually votes against the things that he says he is for, I have to think that Obama is the better candidate.

[rosenfieldthewriter]

Dear Barak, our next President of the United States of America,

I'll be in Scranton in less than 48 hours. Hope to meet you, Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Hilary and Bill.

I'm a professor at University at Albany. Along with Corey Ellis (together we have mobilized the student population). You could say I've converted (I am a Jewish mother) all my students. On October 29, Corey and I will be at the University's Lecture Center on October 29 helping to assure your election.

Sign me, passionate about Obama, Albany for Obama, writer Marlene Rosenfield

[shockmagog]

There are certain problems inherent with the use of today's fissionable materials in the production of electricity.

Within the next 2 or 3 decades, enormous and unnatural-looking markers will be erected at Yucca Mountain, Nevada to warn future civilizations of the nuclear waste stored below:

'Project officials envision etching on 25-ton granite monoliths distraught faces patterned after artist Edvard Munch's 1893 painting, "The Scream." They hope the images will remain intact over the millennia to illustrate the horror of what could happen if someone retrieved metal canisters holding a combined 77,000 tons of decaying fuel pellets buried deep within the mountain.'

Then:

'Ten thousand years is the regulatory requirement for containing high-level nuclear waste, even though Nevada scientists who oppose the Yucca Mountain Project note peak doses from some of the decaying materials won't occur until much later, in the 300,000-year to 800,000-year time frame.'
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Jul-06-Sat-2002/news/19106197.html

[iPolitics]

John McCain: "The environment comes second to my conservative base who loves oil."

[Exusian]

What the candidates said about climate change:

Nothing.

Not one word.

[bridge to somewhere]

Hmm, for the third time middle class was never mentioned by Mc. Go figure.

[johnniec]

Energy policy is the area where I'm most disappointed with both candidates. Both are for "clean coal" and both are for expanded drilling at home. There is currently no such thing as clean coal and every time a hurricane comes through the Gulf there are hundreds of oil spills. Thin film solar is here. This technology makes solar comparable per watt to other dirty options. We need to put a lot of money and political will into increasing the production capabilities of these companies instead of giving the coal and oil companies billions to work on "clean coal" and sequestration technologies that are years away from being a reality.

[Connee]

I agree that the Republicans want to Drill, Drill, Drill....more of the same things that got us into this mess with energy. We know how bad nuclear can be when it comes to storage of the waste. Our planet needs healing, just as our country, banks, credit markets, healthcare and education system need healing. These tied together and when reaching out to new technologies ,creating green solutions, we create jobs. Just a federal mandate that new and replacement roofs on houses to white reflective material could help assuage the effects that will be caused by the loss of ice at the Poles. Also, we must look at our relationship with our animals. Factory farming is devastating for the animals and the planet. Thank God that Obama is more than hesitant to drill ANWR for the short fix of petrol that we would see in 7 years that pristine (one of the last remaining on Earth)refuge for the wildlife will be devastated and species lost by our hands and that still will not solve the problem. We will be punished not for our sins, but by our sins. We have been terrible stewards of our environment. Thank you, Obama, for standing firm for the MOST important issues. Off shore drilling seriously affects all life in the ocean around it, the science has proven that. Thank you,Obama, for, again, realizing this and reminding us of our responsibility to our children and their children. A candidate for the times.. Obama!

[skantea]

Cheney just completed his Iraq "Smash and Grab"

Iraqi government fuels 'war for oil' theories by putting reserves up for biggest ever sale·
BP, Shell and Exxon in meeting with minister
· Unprecedented 40bn barrels up for
The Guardian, Monday October 13 2008

The biggest ever sale of oil assets will take place today, when the Iraqi government puts 40bn barrels of recoverable reserves up for offer in London.

BP, Shell and ExxonMobil are all expected to attend a meeting at the Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair with the Iraqi oil minister, Hussein al-Shahristani.

Access is being given to eight fields, representing about 40% of the Middle Eastern nation's reserves, at a time when the country remains under occupation by US and British forces.

Two smaller agreements have already been signed with Shell and the China National Petroleum Corporation, but today's sale will ignite arguments over whether the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was a "war for oil" that is now to be consummated by western multinationals seizing control of strategic Iraqi reserves.

Gregg Muttitt, from the UK-based social and ecological justice group Platform, says he is alarmed that the government is pushing ahead with its plans without the support of many in Iraq.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/13/oil-iraq

[berryessence]

Here"s what Obama just said at a fundraiser this morning: "For those of you who are feeling giddy or cocky and think this is all set, I just say one word. I guess it"s two words for you: New Hampshire. I"ve been in these positions before where we were favored and the press starts getting carried away and we end up getting spanked. And so that"s another good lesson that Hillary Clinton taught me."

[iPolitics]

John McCain wants to drill drill drill and contnue to destroy our environment.

He's again alternative fuels. Honorless.