Where Do the Presidential Candidates Stand on Environment and Energy?

From drilling for oil to climate change, the answers may surprise you















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Table of Contents:
1: Global Warming: Is It Man-Made? | Reducing Carbon Emissions
2: Offshore Oil Exploration and Drilling | Drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
3: "Clean Coal" | Natural Gas
4: Nuclear Energy | Endangered Species
5: Water Shortage | Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Geothermal)

"Clean Coal"

Obama According to Obama's Web site, the U.S. Department of Energy under his control would work with private companies to design five clean-coal plants that take advantage of carbon capture and sequestration. In early 2007 he co-sponsored the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2007 as a measure to lessen dependence on foreign oil by turning coal into automobile fuel. But, Scientific American, among others, has argued that liquid coal could very well be worse than gasoline, both environmentally and economically.

McCain McCain promises to pour $2 billion annually into the development of clean-coal technology. He wants to commercialize the new processes by building new plants using techniques like capture and sequestration in the U.S.—as well as export these methodologies to countries like China. He also supports utilizing coal-to-liquid systems.

From an interview with Grist magazine: "I'd like to see coal gasification, and I would subsidize R&D in that effort. I'm all for government funding basic R&D, by the way. I really believe that we're going to have to use a kind of a coal [technology] that does not emit the greenhouse gases that present-day coal-fired utility plants do."

Wildcard Wild card:
Obama's running mate, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, believes developing clean-coal technologies is essential to combating global climate change. He asserts, however, that coal is wrong for America and suggests exporting any new coal technologies to emerging countries like China and India, both of which depend heavily on coal-derived energy.

 

Natural Gas

Obama Obama supports the immediate construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline, both for relieving dependence on foreign oil (and increasing American energy security) and because building and maintaining it would create new jobs. According to his campaign, the pipeline could supply up to 1.5 trillion cubic feet (42.5 billion cubic meters) of natural gas per year.

In early August Obama unveiled his energy plan, advocating for cooperating "with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process."

McCain McCain is a booster for tapping the Outer Continental Shelf to extract both oil and natural gas. According to his campaign Web site, there are 77 trillion cubic feet (2.2 trillion cubic meters) of recoverable natural gas offshore. Each year, roughly 2.4 trillion cubic feet (68 billion cubic meters) of natural gas are used each year, according to the Energy Information Administration—a more than 30-year supply at current consumption levels.

From a Santa Barbara, Calif., speech, in late June: "Every year, the federal government buys upward of 60,000 cars and other vehicles, not including military or law enforcement vehicles. … From now on, we're going to make those civilian vehicles flex-fuel capable, plug-in hybrid or cars fueled by clean natural gas."



15 Comments

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  1. 1. Eye144 11:47 AM 9/24/08

    vote!

    But also goto www.SolarPanel-Rental.com to register to get a solar system without large upfront charges, or to buy.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  2. 2. jh443 02:14 PM 9/25/08

    These are non-issue matters. This country is going down the tubes and it has absolutely nothing to do with global warming. As long as the American public refuses to address the issues that are tearing apart our economy, things will only continue to get worse.

    Here's a hint: We can stop worrying about how much carbon dioxide we're putting into the air. We'll soon be so poor that we won't be able to afford cars or even electricity for that matter. Our per capita carbon footprint will match that of third world nations because we will BE a third world nation!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  3. 3. jack 07:01 AM 9/26/08

    new energy is very important

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  4. 4. kwhitemd in reply to jh443 01:35 PM 9/27/08

    Man, you are right on in reference to being distracted from the most serious issues at hand. You have the media to blame for this; part of the "doom and gloom" policy.

    I work for a company that has a solution to our energy crisis. If this is not at the top of our priorities list, there will be no economy here. Becoming a third world nation as a result is assured and may be actually getting off lightly.

    I disagree with the theory that humankind CREATED global warming. Has he/she contributed to it, yes. Sarah Palin has asserted this.

    Focus America.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  5. 5. big brother 10:50 AM 9/29/08

    All of a sudden, $150 billion, over 10 years, seeems like a real piker. If we can spend more, constructively, we should do it!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  6. 6. cshav10 02:24 PM 10/3/08

    The bigger concern is that both the candidates agree on "Clean Coal" as part of their energy program. Clean coal is a myth. There is no known process to scrub the greenhouse gases in a coal-based energy plant. When both the parties agree on something like this beware. The planet and it's citizens are about to get hosed.

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  7. 7. synesthesia00 06:52 PM 10/3/08

    I work in the renewable resources industry. I also live where they want to drill for more oil. Can we just not say that word anymore. I hope the LHC will fix everything. I dont even know what that even means.

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  8. 8. Susan K 10:14 PM 10/4/08

    McCain voted for the first time for renewable energy on Friday. Only because it was attached to the bailout bill. He previously voted with identical votes to Inhofe on 42 out of 44 votes, against clean reneweables like solar, wind, geothermal and ocean and high tech funding like for algae, a total of 50 times.

    'Mcain's 50 Votes Against Clean Energy' includes all of the links to the Senate roll-call votes for each one so you can verify these votes.

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  9. 9. Susan K 10:17 PM 10/4/08

    "Wild card:
    Although McCain has a strong record with regard to global warming, "

    Unfortunately, McCain has successfully created media buzz, even here, that he is pro clean renewables. The record is the exact opposite.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  10. 10. wilbongo 09:28 AM 10/16/08

    Drill baby drill... urgh.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  11. 11. Ediot in reply to Eye144 02:54 PM 10/20/08

    Has CitizenRE actually performed any installations other than the photo op for Ed Begley's show? Last I heard they were supposed to have their manufacturing plant up and running by September, 2007. A recent query to their PR person revealed that, despite assurance by a sales rep at a local home show, they in fact did not have any plants up and running yet, and had not performed a single installation. Many have labeled this a pyramid scheme, and without substantiation in the form of testimonials (the site boasts more than 33,000 commitments), I'm inclined to believe the worst at this point.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  12. 12. RGG 08:36 PM 10/20/08

    Politics are the same on both (any) side of the border; lots of hot air but no teeth (read money/penalties) when it comes to real action after being elected. Whoever wins the race in the U.S. will face the same issues that exist today, and it is unlikely that either candidate will put the environment of tomorrow ahead of food (money/fat profits) on the table today.

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  13. 13. 2008RealityCheck 06:23 PM 9/2/09

    Obama blocks drilling offshore US, then commits up to $10 billion of taxpayer money to help Brazil drill the offshore Tupi oil field. And China has signed a deal to get much of that non-Middle East oil.

    We could really use the hundreds of thousands of union oil industry jobs here in the US, and the $ trillions of oil income wouldn't hurt either.

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  14. 14. PresidentDon 11:57 PM 9/20/09

    And the oil from Alaska is sold to Japan? Not in my back yard complainers, should have all the gas stations in their area closed. Everything comes from somebody's yard.
    Why do I keep getting the feelings that America is last. Sold to the lowest bidder, with poverty for all to come in 2010.
    51% voted for Change, well Change you got, change is all you'll have in your pocket if we do not Revolt, Re Vote now.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  15. 15. PresidentDon 01:00 AM 9/21/09

    And the oil from Alaska is sold to Japan? Not in my back yard complainers, should have all the gas stations in their area closed. Everything comes from somebody's yard.
    Why do I keep getting the feelings that America is last. Sold to the lowest bidder, with poverty for all to come in 2010.
    51% voted for Change, well Change you got, change is all you'll have in your pocket if we do not Revolt, Re Vote now.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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