The presidential race here in the States is really heating up! When I’m not working I am glued to the tv watching CNN! I think this has got to be the most exciting race since…well since who knows as this is the first time we have had a qualified female candidate and black male candidate to go with our usual white male candidates. But who cares! What I really want to know is who is the GREEN candidate of the bunch.
Since our candidates have whittled down a bit I will focus on those still in the race. Let me first fully disclose I am a registered Democrat, but in the spirit of fairness I will keep my opinions to myself and just report on the facts. You decide!
The Democrats
Barack Obama- Senator Obama introduced an energy and climate plan in 2007. He calls for improving energy efficiency in the U.S. by 50 percent by 2030 and all new buildings in the US to be carbon neutral by 2030. He supports a phase-out of incandescent light bulbs by 2014. He proposes an increase in research and development for biofuels, renewable energy, and other clean technologies. He proposes raising fuel-economy standards for automobiles to 40 miles per gallon and light trucks to 32 mpg by 2020. He was a co-sponsor of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, and he calls for cutting U.S. carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. He hopes to accomplish this through a cap-and-trade system that would auction off 100 percent of emissions permits, making polluters pay for the CO2 they emit.
Hillary Clinton - Senator Clinton’s campaign has been carbon neutral! She supports a goal of the US getting 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. She supports raising fuel-economy standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030. She wants the US to cut its consumption of foreign oil by two-thirds of projected levels by 2030. She also proposes a cap and trade system similar to Senator Obama’s; to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 and would auction off 100 percent of the emission permits as well as other measures. Senator Clinton has been a huge advocate for energy independence throughout her campaign.
The Republicans
John McCain- Senator McCain has been a leader on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and is probably the greenest Republican candidate of the group! He too supports a cap and trade system for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and opposes the carbon tax. He’s against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He supports the use of nuclear power as an alternative energy source and a way to reduce carbon emissions and he wants to find a way to use our coal resources without emitting more greenhouse gases. Global warming would be a top issue for his presidency. He spoke out against the current administrations lack of action on the climate change issue! (He will be the oldest president ever, if elected. Even older than Reagan!)
Mike Huckabee - Former Governor Huckabee is unsure if humans are responsible for climate change but supports the cutting of greenhouse gas emissions because it’s the right thing to do. He supports raising fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. He supports the expansion of nuclear power. He believes we have a moral and religious obligation to protect the earth and says as president he will send Congress his comprehensive plan for energy independence (yet no one knows what it is?!).
Ron Paul - Former Congressman Paul doesn’t have much to say on environmental issues at all. He thinks the free market/private companies should have more control of it and the government should stay out of it and see what happens. He supports all offshore drilling. He too doesn’t believe humans have contributed to climate change. He would end any special benefits to energy companies.
The choice is yours America, choose wisely!
