When it comes to being green where do the candidates stand? The environment is a large issue for many people. Renewable energy sources, biofuels and the nuclear energy are all key issues that could lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Where Do The Candidates Stand On Energy Sources?
In environment, politics, united states on January 11, 2008 at 6:42 pmWhen it comes to nuclear energy all the Dems are against nuclear energy except for Barack Obama and Hillary who is “agnostic” on the power source. The Reps are all for nuclear energy.
Coal as fuel is a tricky one. Coal has been a huge cause of pollution the world wide. Clean coal is a possible solution but it’s not that simple. Clean coal is a relatively new process and as an energy source it is much more expensive than standard coal. The 2007 Australian of the Year, paleontologist and environmental activist Tim Flannery has even asserted that coal is not clean regardless of how’s it is used.
There are no coal-fired power plants in commercial production which capture all carbon dioxide emissions, so the process is theoretical and experimental and thus a subject of feasibility or pilot studies. It is has been estimated that it will be 2020 to 2025 before any commercial-scale clean coal power stations (coal-burning power stations with carbon capture and sequestration) are commercially viable and widely adopted.
So on coal where do the candidates stand? Almost all of the Dems are anti-coal with the exception of Obama and Clinton who support “clean coal.” On the Republican side they are all for this so called clean coal. Could they be behind coal because
the coal lobbyists have a ton of money?
Biofuels are the next fuel source up for examination. While some claim they will slow down global warming others say that by the release of Nitrous Oxide they exactly will speed up the warming.
In the US biofuels are mainly about alternatives for transportation fuels. Biofuel can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished rapidly like plants.
The Republicans are mixed on the use of biofuels. Fred Thompson supports their use along with supporting subsidies. Romney also supports their use but not subsidies. Ron Paul believes that the market should determine which biofuels prevail but opposes subsidies. McCain is in favor of biofuels except for ethanol. Huckabee and Rudy are both pro-biofuels.
When it comes to the Democrats the Gravel is against their use. Kucinich doesn’t like the use of food source is for non food source biofuel. Obama, Clinton and Edwards all call for mega billion gallons of biofuels to be produced by the US within the next decade or two.
The issue of renewable energy is another issue for Green voters. Renewable energy refers to the use natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat.
Clinton, Obama and Edwards call for 25% of US electricity to be made from renewable sources by 2025. Obama also goes up a step by requiring the 30% of the government’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.
Gravel calls for a hydrogen economy using wind power.
Kucinich wants 20% of US electricity to be from renewable sources by 2010.
Huckabee requires that 15% of the US electricity comes for “alternative” sources by 2020, this would include “clean” coal.
Giuliani, McCain, Romney, Thompson and Hunter support renewable sources but has no target dates for their use.
Paul believes that the market should determine which energy sources prevail and is against subsidies for renewables.
It’s up to the voter to decide which candidates support their own personal position on the future of the United States energy choices.
Tropical Bamboo
Sometimes, you’ll get stunned by the monstrous amount of ‘carbon sequestration’ ‘global warming’ data realizable.