I'll admit it. Even though energy policy, and its connections to environment, international policy, security policy and economic policy are very important to me, I've not actually made the time to look into what the energy policies and backgrounds of the Democratic presidential primary candidates are. So I thought I would lay out some of what I thought energy policy should be, and then try to start an argument over which candidate has the best energy policy.
A couple of ground rules here though. (Well really more ground suggestions).
First, don't just point me to the diary you already wrote about the speech your candidate gave. Pointing me to your diary is great, but what I am really looking for here are comparisons. Who has the firmer commitment to making sure our alternative energy sources are actually sustainable, Clinton or Edwards? Who has done the most to stick it to Big Oil, Obama or Richardson?
Second, let's try to keep this within the realm of energy, not just argue who is the best candidate overall.
Third, I don't think Gore will run and I already know that if he does I will vote for him, so telling me how great Gore is on energy policy won't help me.
So here is a list of some things I think about energy policy.
- We need, for a huge host of reasons I won't go into because you already know them well, to urgently and drastically reduce our use of fossil fuels. Not just a gradual reduction by 2030 or some such nonsense, but on an emergency basis. I want a candidate who will make it a priority to have significantly reduced reliance on fossil fuels by the end of their first term. Are their any out there?
- There are a lot of stupid 'alternatives' that make matters worse rather than better. Top among these are corn based ethanol, oil-palm based biofuels and coal to liquid technology. These are all corporate subsidies with the words "alternative fuel" stamped on them. I don't want a candidate who will pretend that these things are going to help us.
- Are there any candidates out there who have meaningful plans to reduce energy consumption in the US?
- Do we have a candidate who understands how crappy the US's public transportation system is and has real plans for moving the US away from our car addiction?
- Any candidates who plan to invest the tens of billions of dollars in research money we need to both transition to better technologies and have the companies making those technologies be here rather than Asia or Europe. (or Canada. A brilliant plasma physicist I went to college with just moved to Canada because their government is funding a push towards safe fusion power.)
- In order to institute a sane energy policy, a president will have to be prepared to piss off a lot of big powerful corporations (oil, auto, defense, electrical, mining just to name a few industries). What big powerful corporations has your candidate pissed off recently?
- A president, in order to really hit on an energy policy that works, needs to be totally comfortable with science. They all say they are pro science. They all say they will restore the role of science in US policy. Have any of the candidates demonstrated a particular knowledge/interest/understanding of science, more than the others?
I am honestly unsure who I want to support, and energy policy is going to be a big part of that decision. So please, enlighten me.