BLOG
Country Ham House Hosts Huckabee
-- Colin -- 08/24/2007
This past Wednesday, Mike Huckabee stopped by the Country Ham House in Greenville, S.C. I had a chance to ask the former Arkansas governor, fresh off his second-place finish in the Ames straw poll in Iowa, about the 1300-megawatt coal-fired plant our state utility Santee Cooper is proposing for Kingsburg. Huckabee has publicly stated his support for "clean coal" technology. But if we hope one day to transition to "clean coal" technology, what do we do today about the "dirty coal" technology of Santee Cooper's proposed pulverized coal plant? Huckabee responded that the U.S. should increase its use of renewable energy - like solar - and, in his words, other "non-fossil fuel based" energy sources. He then mentioned the advancements being made at the Hydrogen Engine Center, which he recently visited in Iowa. Later on in his comment, Huckabee reiterated the connection between energy independence and national security, saying that we shouldn't be funding "despots" in the Middle East.
Huckabee addresses energy independence in South Carolina
-- Emma -- 08/22/2007
When asked about his support of a renewable energy standard at a gathering at Beef'O'Brady's in Fort Mill, S.C., yesterday, Mike Huckabee said that the United States can become energy independent in a decade. He said that he believes our fuel should be homegrown and environmentally friendly, and cited biofuels, wind, solar, and hydrogen as important sources of fuel that our country should pursue.
While Huckabee did not directly answer the renewable energy question in Fort Mill, he was more specific in a July interview, in which he expressed disappointment that the Senate energy bill passed earlier this year rejected a renewable energy standard of 15 percent by 2020. In the same interview, he offered support for the Senate bill's provision increasing fuel economy to 35 mpg by 2020.
Iowa Democratic Debate Recap
-- Mike -- 08/20/2007
While the media questioners at yesterday's Democratic debate in Iowa did not ask any of the candidates about global warming or energy, several of the candidates brought up the issue on their own, including Senator Clinton and Governor Richardson. Senator Obama discussed the issue at greater length in response to a question about telling the "whole truth" about a "major" issue.
OBAMA: I think there are a number of issues where there are going to be some choices we've got to make and some sacrifices involved. I'll give you one specific example, and that's on energy. All of us on this stage have talked about global warming and how it is a moral imperative for us to do something about this, to ensure that we're passing on a livable planet to our children and our grandchildren. There will be some costs involved. It's not—we can't do it on the cheap. There are some things that we can do to conserve energy, but all of those steps are going to require a little bit of hardship and a little bit of pinching, and that's something that we don't have enough of a discussion about. I've tried to. I went to Detroit, and in front of a bunch of auto makers, I said we've got to raise fuel efficiency standards on cars. And the silence was deafening in the room. But those are the kinds of choices, I think, that the next president is going to have to advance and have an honest conversation with the American people about.
Click here to watch video of this response.
Additionally, least you think the lack of a substantive discussion during the debate on energy went unnoticed by the candidates, Governor Richardson pointed it out during a post-debate interview with the local NBC affiliate.
RICHARDSON: I was hoping to talk about energy, you know I'm a former secretary of energy, and in my judgment we need to become energy independent, and renewable fuels and ethanol, and renewable technology's the key. I wish I'd even been asked a question on energy. Interestingly, there are no questions on energy…
Candidates spending LOTS of time in NH
-- brucebc -- 08/13/2007
News clips from several papers throughout the state make it clear that the presidential candidates, despite all kinds of talk about when and where people will actually vote, continue to take the New Hampshire Primary seriously and to talk about global warming and energy at most stops. The Caledonian-Record, covering the North Country of NH & VT, reported last Friday on Governor Richardson's stop in Whitefield, N.H., here.
Climate marchers complete trek across Southern NH
-- brucebc -- 08/07/2007
On Sunday, hundreds of marchers of all ages completed a five-day walk through Southern New Hampshire to help elevate the issue of global warming and the need for real action to curb emissions of global warming pollution. Those of us working hard to elevate the issue of global warming in the presidential primaries commend the great work of the marches' organizer. (A companion march finished in Iowa on Sunday, too.) Check out media coverage of the March to Reenergize NH here and also watch the excellent video of the final day on the StepItUp site. For more day-to-day info on the march, including several more videos, go to ClimateSummer.org.
Senator McCain Addresses Global Warming in SC
-- Megan -- 07/30/2007
Senator John McCain spoke about his solutions for global warming at Stax Original restaurant in Greenville Saturday morning. When asked by student volunteer and Furman University environmental studies major Lizzie Cooke what he proposes to do about the 150 coal plants that are planned to be built around the country, McCain responded, "I don't have a good answer for that." However, he went on to detail his plan for limiting our nation's overall emissions.
Senator McCain explained that he is a proponent of nuclear energy. He believes reprocessing is absolutely necessary and suggests that we model our nuclear development after France, a nation he believes successful in effectively using nuclear power.
In regard to the coal plants, McCain said every measure to make them more environmentally friendly should be taken, including adding scrubbers and other precautions.
Senator McCain also mentioned the "Climate Stewardship Act of 2007," a senate bill he has co-sponsored with Joe Lieberman. McCain stated that cap-and-trade was absolutely necessary to reducing carbon emissions by 65 percent as detailed in the bill.
Senator Obama addresses College Dem Convention
-- Megan -- 07/27/2007
The National College Democrats convention at the
Obama went on to suggest possible solutions to the global warming crisis, saying that it is time for new leadership to save our planet from catastrophe. He then proposed lowering carbon emissions through cap-and-trade system and by increasing fuel efficiency standards.
Obama said that fundamental change is what he plans to bring to the country and is only possible with the help of all Americans. “Big change needs to come from the bottom up,” Obama said. One of these big changes includes the environment - he suggests that we must commit to drive fuel efficient cars and not huge SUVs.
Giuliani: America needs to become energy independent
-- Mike -- 07/26/2007
Rudy Giuliani had an op/ed titled "Leading America Toward Energy Independence" published today on the political website RealClearPolitics.com. The former mayor's energy policy is part of his recently announced "12 Commitments to America."
Giuliani says that achieving energy independence "will require expanding our reliance on a much more diverse range of energy sources that America can control," including ethanol and other bio-fuels, nuclear power, coal, solar power, wind power and hydro-power. On coal, specifically, Giuliani writes:
"America has more coal than Saudi Arabia has oil. If we can compete and make cost effective the process of carbon sequestration, clean coal, we can rely on coal to a much larger extent. And we can rely on it without harming the environment."
Click here to read the entire piece.
Romney Asked About Global Warming in NH
-- Mike -- 07/26/2007
Mitt Romney fielded questions from New Hampshire voters at an hour long "Ask Mitt Anything" meeting yesterday in Bedford, N.H. Acccording to the Union Leader, Romney was asked about global warming:
"[Romney] called for a greenhouse gas reduction—one that is truly global in scope.
'They don't call it America warming, they call it global warming,' Romney said."
McCain Discusses Global Warming at NH Town Hall Meeting
-- Mike -- 07/26/2007
John McCain discussed global warming at a town hall meeting in Keene, N.H., yesterday. The Brattleboro Reformer reports:
"[McCain] said that while he did not address the issue in his 2000 campaign, he is now a believer in global warming and would work to cut greenhouse gas emissions 'I am convinced. There is not a doubt in my mind that climate change is real,' he said.
Nuclear power must be part of the equation though, as it has been for France, where 80 percent of the country's electricity is derived from nuclear, he argued. The American military has powered its submarine fleet for more than 50 years with nuclear power without any serious accidents, he said.
'Nuclear power has got to be a part of any real, meaningful effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,' he said.
Fuel efficiency standards must also be increased, he said, but not at the expense of the automobile industry. With 'the big three' American car manufacturers already 'on the brink,' any change must avoid making a bad problem worse, he said.
