Energy Literacy Advocates Newsroom

While not in the same fancy table format as in the magazine (subscribers see page 124 of the November 12th edition of Time Magazine), here is a roundup of the environmental positions of the presidential candidates as provided by Time (view the original article here):


Friday, Nov. 02, 2007
The Eco Vote
By Jeffrey Kluger
The most remarkable thing about the environmental debates taking place in this year's presidential campaign is that they're occurring at all. Once the stuff of a few hug-the-planet bromides in green states like Vermont and Oregon, the environment is one of the hot topics of the 2008 campaign. Yes, there are some candidates who haven't gotten the message (witness Fred Thompson's loopy joke that global warming is taking place on Mars and Jupiter too). But for voters shopping for a green Prez, it's all at once a buyer's market. Here's how the Big Six candidates shape up.

[Energy Literacy note - Each candidate provides their views on each of the following categories, in this order: 1)Carbon Caps, 2)Energy Efficiency, 3)Mileage, 4)Nuclear Energy, 5)Drilling]

HILLARY CLINTON
1) Supports cap-and-trade, allowing businesses to swap carbon credits. Seeks an 80% carbon cut by 2050
2) Seeks a 10% reduction in national energy use by 2020. Wants new federal buildings to be “zero emission” by 2030
3) Calls for raising gas-mileage (CAFE) standards to 35 m.p.g. within 10 years. Will use administrative power if Congress declines to act
4) Has not taken a strong position on nuclear power; calls herself “agnostic” on the topic
5) Has opposed drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and in the Atlantic

JOHN EDWARDS
1) Supports cap-and-trade beginning in 2010 and 80% reduction in carbon output by 2050
2) Wants 15% cut in energy use by 2018. Seeks efficiency standards for federal buildings and vehicles
3) Wants 40-m.p.g. national average to be achieved by 2016. Proposes $1 billion per year fund to stimulate innovations in fuel efficiency
4) Opposes expanded use of nuclear power. Worries about safety
5) Opposes drilling in ANWR and offshore. Voted against both while in the Senate

RUDY GIULIANI
1) Acknowledges global warming but rejects cap-and-trade. Has not proposed any specific carbon-reduction targets
2) Broadly approves of alternative-energy sources and improved efficiency, but has no specific proposals
3) Hasn’t called for specific changes in auto-mileage requirements. Not seen as likely to do so
4) Supports increased use of nuclear energy. His private firm has conducted security work for the nuclear industry
5) Supports drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as well as in ANWR. Has received heavy campaign contributions from oil and gas industries

JOHN MCCAIN
1) Co-sponsor of Senate cap-and-trade bill; seen as a bipartisan leader on the issue. Wants 65% reduction in carbon by 2050
2) Generally supports increased energy efficiency but has not announced specific targets
3) Calls generally for raising CAFE standards. In past has advocated 35 m.p.g.
4) Supports expanded use of nuclear energy. Advocates including it as part of a broad mix of nonpetroleum power sources
5) Opposes drilling in ANWR. Has consistently voted against it despite party pressure favoring expanded exploration

MITT ROMNEY
1) Would consider cap-and-trade only if part of a larger global plan
2) Generally supports improved efficiency but does not address the issue regularly and offers no targets
3) Would not support mileage goals as a stand-alone measure. Would consider them only if they were part of a comprehensive energy plan
4) Supports more use of nuclear power as part of energy mix
5) Supports drilling in ANWR and offshore and stresses the point in video on his campaign website

BARACK OBAMA
1) Supports cap-and-trade legislation and calls for an 80% carbon reduction by 2050
2) Stresses innovation as a means to improve efficiency. Calls for a 50% improvement by 2030
3) Has alternately called for 50 m.p.g. within 18 years or 1-m.p.g.-improvement per year rule. To ease transition, wants tax credits for automakers
4) Is willing to explore expanded use of nuclear power. Not an enthusiast
5) Opposes ANWR drilling. Missed 2007 Senate vote on drilling off the coast of Virginia

Conclusion
So who's the greenest in this red-blue scrum? For the GOP, it's McCain. For the Dems, a toss-up. But beyond the Big Six, there's a surprise seventh: Bill Richardson. The New Mexico Guv sets higher targets than the rest: a 90% cut in carbon by 2050; 50 m.p.g. by 2020. He would also slash oil imports 85% by 2025. Being a second-tier candidate may free him to take chances. Among green voters, that's a way to make it to the top tier.

Labels: election 2008, environment