With former Vice President Al Gore having stepped up as a de facto figurehead for environmentally sustainable development, it seems appropriate to ask what the next VP of the United States can and will do for “green” issues. The VP is granted no executive power by the constitution, but—along with deciding tie votes in the Senate and the potential for an unfortunate promotion—can act as an agent of the President in whatever roles the President sees fit. …read more of Can the Vice President Affect Change? here

Sarah Palin considers herself an expert on energy policy.  Moreover, John McCain considers her an expert on energy policy.  He’s stated on many occasions that her chief responsibility as vice-president will be to spearhead our energy policy and forge the path to American energy independence.  In her first major policy speech on energy, Governor Palin today said that “we have the resources to be energy independent.”

If we are talking about human resources and ability, I completely agree.  Americans indeed, have the technological ingenuity and can-do spirit to be energy independent.  But unfortunately, I think Governor Palin was referring to oil and natural gas resources.  Perhaps someone ought to tell her that there are two very important reasons why we can’t “drill” our way to energy independence:

1)    we simply don’t have a big enough domestic oil and natural gas supply
2)    the climate crisis is far too serious to continue to rely on fossil fuels

According to the 2008 BP Statistical Review of World Energy the US has 2.4% of the world’s proven oil reserves, but consumes 24% of the world’s oil.  It also shows that the US has 3.4% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, but consumes 22.6% of the world’s natural gas.

These are the facts.  It’s irresponsible to assert, or even imply that the United States can ever produce enough oil or natural gas from domestic reserves to meet our demand.  If “drill baby drill” constitutes the bulk of Governor Palin’s energy policy it’s not much of an energy policy.  We simply don’t have it, and I am disturbed by her statements to the contrary because they’re misleading at best.

James Hansen, one of the world’s foremost climatologists and head of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies, estimates that at current carbon output levels, the world has approximately 10 years before we reach a “tipping point” and global warming permanently exceeds the reaches of man’s control.  If the climate crisis is even half as serious as Dr. Hansen asserts, we should be doing as much as we possibly can to move towards renewable and low-carbon energy production.  “But Palin made only a passing reference to solar power in her speech and instead renewed her call for more drilling in US coastal waters.”

This type of posturing may be politically expedient, but it lacks substance as an energy policy.  In fact, it’s down right irresponsible given the reality of US domestic oil and natural gas supplies, and the seriousness of the climate crisis.

Alaska is an oil state.  Oil companies provide most of the jobs and oil revenues make up most of the budget for the State.  So, it’s important that people understand, when Governor Palin says she’s “taken on big oil”, it’s probably more accurate to say that she forced oil companies to pay more taxes.  She basically helped push though legislation that increased taxes on oil revenues.  I suppose that counts, but it’s disingenuous to give the impression that the Governor took a bold stand.  This was essentially a mandate given to her by the people of Alaska, who were tired of a free-all-oil policy and Governor Palin kept confidence with the people by fulfilling that mandate.  Indeed, she is to be commended for that.

But given how popular oil companies are right about now, you’d think she would want to trumpet her David vs. Goliath-type success.  Unfortunately that wouldn’t mesh well with the ticket’s position of keeping taxes low across the board.  “The McCain campaign Web site biography for Palin doesn’t mention the oil tax legislation. It does mention that she suspended the state’s fuel tax, which saved taxpayers about $40 million.”

The truth is that Governor Palin is far more of a friend to big oil than she is a true “reformer”.  …read more of Did Palin Really Take on Big Oil? here

Joe Biden has been, by and large, pretty good on environmental issues during his time in the Senate.  He’s voted in favor for higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, opposed the construction of new coal fire power plants, and supported subsidies for renewable energy technology, but he’s never really led any significant environmental initiatives.  Even John McCain has led an environmental initiative, introducing revolutionary environmental legislation that set hard caps for carbon emissions, and yet the best Biden can boast in all the years that he’s been a Senator is his co-sponsorship on good environmental legislation.

In fact, after over 30 years in the Senate, Joe Biden’s single biggest environmental accomplishment may very well be Henlopen State Park. …read more of Senator Biden’s Unspectacular Environmental Record here

“Energy Independence” is a statement often dissipated recently in the Presidential race. Interestingly, both sides seem to claim that they are the champions who can achieve this magnificent feat. The importance of energy independence in this globalized world was struck home by Barack Obama in the third debate at Hofstra University: “If we invest in a serious energy policy, we will save the amount of money we’re borrowing from China to send to Saudi Arabia.” While both campaigns claim to uphold the banner of energy independence, they are each proselytizing very different answers for achieving this goal. …read more of What’s the Price for Nuclear Technology? here