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)

Water Shortage

Obama With 39 states predicted to experience a water shortage in the next decade, Obama advocates developing a national plan to help areas of high population growth better manage water-related resources. He also calls for new water-efficiency regulations in appliances as well as in landscaping and farming.

From Obama's answers to questions presented by Science Debate 08 and the Scientists & Engineers for America: "Solutions to this critical problem will require close collaboration between federal, state and local governments, and the people and businesses affected. First, prices and policies must be set in a ways that give everyone a clear incentive to use water efficiently and avoid waste. … Second, information, training, and, in some cases, economic assistance should be provided to farms and businesses that will need to shift to more efficient water practices."

McCain McCain supports renegotiating the terms of the Colorado River Compact, which provides guidelines for divvying up the river's water among California, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. Populations in this region have shifted wildly over the past 86 years since the pact was ratified in 1922, his campaign says.

From several speeches McCain gave last month in Colorado: "Hello, I'm John McCain. I'm from Arizona and I'm here to take your water."

 

Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Geothermal)

Obama Obama wants to establish a federal mandate that 10 percent of all the electricity used in America come from sustainable sources. Part of the $150 billion, 10-year expenditure—the centerpiece of his energy plan—is to develop these resources as well as shift ethanol production from corn to cellulose-based sources that do not affect the food supply. Obama has, however, also been a supporter of ethanol made primarily from corn—a prominent industry in his home state of Illinois—and recently told farmers he supports federal mandates to make nine billion gallons (34 billion liters) of ethanol to use as fuel this year.

From a speech at Michigan State University (M.S.U.) in early August: "To meet these goals, we will invest more in the clean-technology research and development that's occurring in labs and research facilities all across the country and right here at M.S.U., where you're working with farm owners to develop this state's wind potential and developing nanotechnology that will make solar cells cheaper."

McCain McCain's campaign platform is largely nonspecific with regard to renewable energy. He favors "rationalizing" existing tax incentives on renewable energy until the market becomes sustainable and does not require government support. Democrats noted that McCain missed eight votes on a renewable energy bill that finally failed to get out of the Senate in July. He supports ethanol as a biofuel, but recently urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to relax rules on the amount of ethanol produced because of its effect on food and livestock feed prices.

 



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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.

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  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!

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  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.

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  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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