Public Power - October 2008 - (Page 34)

Energy Policy in 2009 and Beyond Energy policy of the executive branch: post-2008 Although Congress this yearpass comprefailed to hensive legislation to address transform the industry: McCain, by a graduated tax credit that rewards lower carbon global climate change, the presidential elec- Sturgis, S.D., to tell an audience of 20,000 emissions and Obama by providing $4 biltion is now on the horizon. Both Senators his own ideas about energy. “We’re not go- lion in loans and tax credits to American Barack Obama, D-Ill., and John McCain, ing to pay $4 a gallon for gas, because we auto plants and manufacturers committed R-Ariz.—the Democratic and Republican are going to drill offshore and we are going to finding ways for cars to use less gas. Mcpresidential nominees—agree the United to drill now,” he said. Cain also plans “to award a $300 million States needs to cut greenhouse gas emis“The current federal moratorium on prize to the development of a battery packsions and free itself from dependence on drilling [for oil and natural gas] in the Outer age that has the size, capacity, cost and foreign oil, without, of course, putting too Continental Shelf stands in the way of en- power to leapfrog the commercially availmuch strain on an already-beleaguered ergy exploration and production,” says able plug-in hybrids or electric cars,” economy. However, each has different ideas McCain’s energy plan, “The Lexington according to The Lexington Project. on how to make this happen. Both candidates also support exploring Project.” “It is time for the federal govern“Will America watch as the clean energy ment to lift these restrictions and to put our cellulosic ethanol— a biofuel made from jobs and industries of the future flourish in own reserves to use.” wood, grass or other non-edible plant countries like Spain, Japan, or Germany?” Meanwhile, the two candidates agree parts—that could replace corn- and sugarObama asked a crowd in Lansing, Mich., that making “oil-free” cars is paramount. based ethanol, which, both McCain and Aug. 4, while unveiling his “New Energy Obama would give consumers a $7,000 tax Obama say, competes with food crops. for America Plan.” “Or will we create them credit to buy plug-in hybrids and other low- Obama intends to create the “first-ever here, in the greatest country on Earth, with emissions cars, while McCain offers a commercial cellulosic ethanol plant,” as the most talented, productive workers in slightly smaller tax credit—$5,000 to cus- well as five “first-of-a-kind” coal-fired the world?” tomers buying a zero-emissions car. Both demonstration plants with carbon capture “We have to make a serious, nationwide candidates would encourage automakers to and sequestration. commitment to developing new Although many utilities do not sources of energy and we have to think carbon capture and sequesdo it right away,” Obama said later, tration will be a feasible option answering his own cry. within the next 15 years, McCain To transition to what Obama believes that committing $2 billion, calls a “clean energy economy,” the annually, toward the advancement senator, if elected, would, among of clean coal technologies will other things, reduce demand, inchange that outlook. vest in renewable sources of Under an Obama presidency, energy, investigate speculation in revenues—$15 billion of the $150 energy markets and retool the auto billion he plans to spend on new industry to make higher mileage renewables in the next decade— vehicles, electric cars and engines from a federal cap-and-trade powered by biodeisel commonsystem would help to fund new place—ideas often echoed by low-emissions technologies. McCain. Obama also favors using tax incenMore immediately, Obama tives—such as extending the would give every working family a production tax credit for five $1,000 energy rebate, paid for with years—to spur development of a windfall tax on oil profits, and sell new renewables, while McCain 70 million barrels of oil from the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama says he would advocate a permaStrategic Petroleum Reserve for voiced support for hydro power as a source of nent tax credit for less expensive crude oil—ideas clean, renewable energy during a September visit companies—equal to 10 percent of to a Voith Siemens hydro manufacturing plant in shirked by his opponent. a company’s wages spent on reAlso on Aug. 4, McCain visited York, Pa. Photo courtesy Voith Siemens and Strategies 360. search and development—as an BY LAUREL LUNDSTROM 34 OCTOBER 2008 PUBLIC POWER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - October 2008

Public Power - October 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions The Future of Fuels in a Carbon-Constrained World An Energy Revolution Energy Policy in 2009 and Beyond A Green Reincarnation Beyond the Green Bandwagon Reliability Green Energy Community Broadband Customer Service Hometown Connections Human Resources Parting Shot

Public Power - October 2008

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