Obama on the Record

An interview with Barack Obama about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 28

This is part of a series of interviews with presidential candidates produced jointly by Grist and Outside.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama at an Earth Day 2007 event.


In his two and a half years in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has been active -- even hyperactive -- on matters of energy and the environment. The Democrat from Illinois has introduced or cosponsored nearly 100 eco-related bills on issues ranging from lead poisoning and mercury emissions to auto fuel economy and biofuels promotion. Along the way, he's racked up a notable 96 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters. [Update: In February 2008, Obama's lifetime LCV score was changed to 86 -- lower than before because he missed some key votes while on the road campaigning.]

But it hasn't been all hugs and kisses between Obama and enviros. Some green activists wrinkle their noses at the senator's overarching emphasis on bipartisan consensus, insisting that real environmental change won't happen without tough partisan battles against entrenched interests. Enviros have also knocked Obama for his support of corn-derived ethanol and liquid coal, both of which would benefit industries in his home state of Illinois but do little if anything to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Are the criticisms justified? Does this frontrunner have what it takes to tackle the climate crisis and lead America to a cleaner, brighter energy future? To find some answers, I reached Obama by phone in his office in Washington, D.C., between Senate votes.

For more info on his platform and record, check out Grist's Obama fact sheet.

Listen to a clip of this interview:

 


 

Why should voters consider you the strongest candidate on environmental issues? What sets your green platform apart from the rest?

To begin with, people can look at my track record. I'm proud of the fact that one of the first sets of endorsements I received in my race for the U.S. Senate was from the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. I've since cast tough votes on behalf of the environment. For example, I voted against the "Clear Skies" bill that George Bush was promoting, despite the fact that the administration had heated up support for the bill in southern Illinois, which you know is a coal area of the country. So I think people can feel confident that I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk.

How central will energy and the environment be to your campaign?

I consider energy to be one of the three most important issues that we're facing domestically, along with revamping our education system and fundamentally reforming our health-care system. And the opportunities for significant change exist partly because awareness of the threat of climate change has grown rapidly over the last several years. Al Gore deserves a lot of credit for that, as do activists in the environmental community and outlets like Grist. People recognize the magnitude of the [climate] problem and are ready to take it on.

Not only is there environmental concern, but you're also seeing people who are recognizing that our dependence on fossil fuels from the Middle East is distorting our foreign policies, and that we can't sustain economically continuing dependence on a resource that is going to get more and more expensive over time. As all those things converge, we have to move boldly on energy legislation, and that's what I'll do as the next president.

How central of a role do you think the issues of energy and the environment will play overall in the 2008 campaign? Will they take a backseat to Iraq?

Bringing the war in Iraq to a responsible end is the most pressing challenge we face, but that doesn't mean it's the only challenge we face. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil and slashing our greenhouse-gas emissions will also be defining issues in this campaign.

You've consistently emphasized consensus and putting aside partisan battles. Many argue that, when it comes to climate change, the maximum of what's politically possible falls short of the minimum we need to do to solve the problem. In other words, consensus won't get us where we need to go. Will you fight the political battles needed to move the consensus on this issue, even if that means aggravating partisan rifts?

I am the cosponsor of the most aggressive climate-change legislation in the Senate, along with Barbara Boxer [D-Calif.] and Bernie Sanders [I-Vt.], which would reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. We are going to have to make some big decisions to meet those goals. Consensus doesn't mean 100 percent consensus -- there is undoubtedly going to be resistance from certain parts of the energy sector, and there may be ideological resistance within the Republican Party, and we are going to have to attend to the regional differences in terms of how people get energy. But I believe that we can put together a strong majority to move forward, as long as we are thoughtful about the potential losers in any big piece of energy legislation.

Do you believe that we can achieve political consensus on this goal of 80 percent reductions by 2050?

I think with presidential leadership we can meet this goal, and it will be one of my top priorities. But it is going to require a thoughtful approach that accounts for the possibility that electricity prices will go up, and that low-income people may need to be compensated. We'll have to deal with the fact that many of our power plants are coal burning, and consider what investments we're willing to make in coal sequestration. If we make sure that the burdens and benefits of a strong environmental policy are evenly spread across the economy, then people will want to see us take on this problem in an aggressive way.

Do you believe that we need a carbon tax in addition to a cap-and-trade program?

I believe that, depending on how it is designed, a carbon tax accomplishes much of the same thing that a cap-and-trade program accomplishes. The danger in a cap-and-trade system is that the permits to emit greenhouse gases are given away for free as opposed to priced at auction. One of the mistakes the Europeans made in setting up a cap-and-trade system was to give too many of those permits away. So as I roll out my proposals for a cap-and-trade system, I will price permits so that it has much of the same effect as a carbon tax.

You have personally addressed automakers with a call for more efficient car technologies. Is Detroit ready for this shift?

We made some progress recently in the Senate, with the first fuel-efficiency standards increase in 20 years. It only went up to 35 miles per gallon -- far short of what we needed and what technology would allow.

We have to work not only to make our cars more efficient, but the fuel we put in those cars a lot cleaner. I believe I am the only candidate who has proposed a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard, something that California has already initiated.

You've received a lot of criticism from enviros of your support for coal-to-liquids technology. You recently shifted your position somewhat, but haven't retracted it. Why?

I was always firm that if the life-cycle carbon emissions of coal-to-liquid were higher than gasoline, we couldn't do it because it would contradict my position on reducing greenhouse gases. But I also believe that, because of the abundance of coal in the U.S., coal-based fuels could be a substitute for some of the oil we import from the Middle East, as long as we can reduce the resulting CO2 emissions to 20 percent below current levels from petroleum-based fuels.

How much should we be willing to pay in taxpayer money to make liquid coal that clean?

Our original bill on coal-to-liquids -- which generated a lot of heat in the environmental community, no pun intended -- proposed $200 million for demonstration projects, to see where this technology might take us.

If the technology exists for us to use coal in a clean fashion, then that is something all of us should welcome, particularly because China and India are building coal-fired power plants at a rapid rate, and they likely have lifespans of several decades. Coal is a cheaper resource, and they're going to be figuring out a way to exploit it, so we should help to find technologies that will ensure that if it is used, it is used cleanly. The U.S. is recognized as the global leader in understanding better geologic coal-sequestration technologies. If we abandon that leadership, we risk leaving the rest of the planet wide open to investing billions in polluting infrastructure.

But I stress again that my position has been consistent throughout: If we are using coal in the absence of these clean technologies, then we are going to be worsening the trend of global warming, and that is something that we can't do.

Do you support a freeze in the U.S. on new coal development until these clean-coal technologies are commercially available?

I believe that relying on the ingenuity of the free market, coupled with a strong carbon cap, is the best way to reduce carbon emissions rather than an arbitrary freeze on development.

As president, would you oppose subsidizing any technology that increases global warming -- even if it reduces our dependence on foreign oil?

As a general principle I would agree with that. I would not make huge investments or try to take technologies to scale that worsen the climate-change situation. But it may be appropriate for the federal government to make small investments in pilot projects to see if we can make dirty fuels cleaner.

I think that with nuclear power, we have got to see if there are ways for us to store the radioactive material in a safe, environmentally sound way, and if we can do that and deal with the some of the safely and security issues, [nuclear power] is something that we should look at.

My general view is that we should experiment with all sorts of potential energy sources -- don't prejudge what works and what doesn't, but insist that we have very strict standards in terms of where we want to end up, and enforce those standards vigorously.

Some argue that we should only commit to a global climate treaty if China and India do as well. Do you agree? How would you bring China and India to the table?

We shouldn't look at it as a single tit-for-tat exchange. The U.S. is the world's largest economy and the largest single source of the world's greenhouse-gas emissions, so it is our responsibility to take the first step. We cannot expect China and India, with a billion people each, to take the lead on this if we do not -- but we can expect them to join us if we demonstrate leadership. If we must take the first step, our second and third steps must be conditioned on meaningful participation by all countries. This is also an enormous opportunity for us to provide our technological expertise to these nations so they can leapfrog to cleaner technologies.

You are a strong supporter of both corn and cellulosic ethanol, both of which would get a major boost from your proposed National Low Carbon Fuel Standard. How, specifically, will you structure policies that transition the U.S. away from corn ethanol and toward cellulosic?

No single feedstock is going to get us to energy independence, and none will be the perfect solution -- each faces its own challenges. Corn-starch ethanol provides a critically important bridge toward energy independence and corn remains a strong part of the domestic biofuels industry. But developing greater volumes of cellulosics is a critical next step in domestic biofuel development, and is the key component of my Low Carbon Fuel Standard bill.

Through greater fuel economy and the use of hybrid and plug-in vehicles, we can notably reduce our dependence on foreign oil over the next decade. It is important to note that domestic fuel security, environmental protection, and economic development all must be considered in unison as we progress. My National Low Carbon Fuel Standard provides a way for us to better understand the impacts of an advanced biofuels industry on the environment, so that as we move forward on cellulosics and other domestic fuels we do so responsibly.

What environmental achievement are you proudest of?

In 2006, I developed an innovative approach to gradually increase CAFE standards while protecting the financial future of American automakers. The resulting Obama-Lugar-Biden Fuel Economy Reform Act gained the support of senators who had never supported CAFE increases before. This, in turn, helped lay the foundation for Senate passage of updated CAFE standards last month.

After climate and energy, what do you think is the most important environmental issue facing the nation?

Restoring the strength of the EPA to adequately enforce our clean-air, clean-water, and other environmental-protection laws, after over six years of ruling by ideology rather than science and adherence to the law.

Who is your environmental hero?

If I think historically, Rachel Carson probably had as much to do as anybody in helping trigger an environmental consciousness in this country.

I also admire Teddy Roosevelt, who probably wouldn't have seen himself as an environmentalist in modern terms, but who had a great appreciation of the outdoors and the beauty of our land, and understood that part of the role of the president is sound stewardship.

If you could spend one week in a natural area in the U.S., where would it be?

Clinton button

I have very fond memories as a kid of traveling to Yellowstone, marveling at the scenery, and chasing after bison, much to my mother's distress.

But when I think of my own connection to the earth, I think of my time in Hawaii, my birthplace. I think those of us who grew up in Hawaii have a particular attachment to the land and understand how fragile it is. When you are snorkeling through the coral reefs, you realize that a slight change in temperature or increase in sediment and runoff could end up destroying it all and making it unavailable for your children. That is something you worry about.

What have you done personally to lighten your environmental footprint?

We just bought a Ford Escape, so I traded in a non-hybrid for a hybrid. We are in the process of replacing our light bulbs in our house and trying to limit the use of our air conditioning, trying to make sure that we unplug and turn off all of our appliances when we're not using them. It's a fun project to work on with my 9-year-old and my 6-year-old.

Amanda Little, Grist’s former Muckraker columnist, is author of Power Trip: From Oil Wells to Solar Cells—Our Ride to the Renewable Future. Her articles on energy and the environment have been published in Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, Wired, Outside, and New York magazine.

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  1. horrorz Posted 1:08 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    I appreciate it, but not good enoughReaders: Decipher the political rhetoric.... and you see the same thing that occurs at every presidential election. The American people get pushed mainstream presidential candidates that aren't good enough.
    -Sen. Obama's biggest no-no is saying nukes are on the table with Iran! The implications of a nuclear attack socially,environmentally for the next hundreds of years  
    -Check out Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who introduced H. Res. 333(Impeachment of Dick Cheney), he has a platform that truly stands out from the rest.
  2. Gary Bridge Posted 4:12 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    Coal to LiquidsI see Grist pushing and questioning Barack once again about coal to liquids.  Several weeks ago Grist was covering a supposed flip-flop by this candidate on the same subject which is NOT well understood by scientists and even less well understood by the media and average citizens.
    Questions:  I wonder what Amanda or Barack would think of a special coal to liquids process which recycled CO2 emissions as more elemental carbon atoms of feedstock, just like the coal itself?  And what if this process didn't produce a float-on-water oil, albeit sulfur free?  What if some specific new clean coal technology which has remained hidden for the past 35 years were to suddenly show up and a new biodegradable fuel revolution would then begin?
    Just curious.
    Gary Bridge
  3. adriandeveny Posted 8:11 pm
    30 Jul 2007

    Barack- time to do your researchWhat worries me most about this interview is actually Obama's answer to the question on a tax vs cap and trade system.  His answer clearly shows that he does not understand the difference- or at least that he didnâ€TMt do a good job showing that he understood the difference in this interview.  Based on his statement here, he seems to think that auctioning off permits is equivalent to setting a carbon tax.  While I agree that auctioning permits is a necessary feature of an equitable cap and trade system, it does not accomplish what a tax accomplishes.  A tax creates a pre-established market price on carbon that can provide a great deal of market stability.   I am not arguing that a tax is better, or that we cannot have an effective hybrid policy. I simply believe that it is the job of a politician to be aware of the political solutions to environmental problems, even if he does not fully understand the science. It does not appear that Barack even understands the differences between the main political solutions to emissions reductions, and I think this is an indication of the low priority he is giving environmental issues in his campaign.

    I like Barack, and overall I think he is an excellent candidate, but is time that he gets better informed on environmental issues.

  4. geoark Posted 1:16 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Missing the pointTax policy is critical:
    It is high time that politicians understand the importance of a rather simple concept - an "Environmental Revenue Shift".  Let us stop taxing desired activities (like work and capital investment) and charge a user fee on the consumption of our planet.  Cap and trade give-a-ways miss the mark.
    Of course, charging for Earth Consumption will raise prices on wasteful things and hurt middle class on low-income groups.  However, without the appropriate incentives, we as a planetary civilization will never become sustainable.  
    Along with the user fees on the consumption of our Earth (e.g. carbon taxes), we need to distribute an "Earth Share" to all citizens.  This could be done via Social Security, a Health Savings Account, and funds for converting to resource conserving technologies.
    Large corporations don't need to make billions more by giving our land, air, and water away.  These "Earth Consumption Obligation" Fees (or ECO-Fees) should go to all of us.
    Barack, are you listening?
    GeoArk
    http://www.green-shift.org

  5. MillerOfReality Posted 2:42 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Yes, missing the (corporate-free) point (of view).I want Obama to be the candidate.  I do.  He's the only one with a shot to inject some fresh air into things... but, alas, he's gone.  Gone to the same interest groups as the rest.  Did you see him (and Billary, and Edwards) bow their heads when Mike Gravel attacked them about where their money comes from (CNN-YouTube debates).  This is the same unfortunate rhetoric Mr. Obama displayed in those debates (laughable calling them "debates").
    It all actually sounds very nice and good.  There's a lot of nice 18-months-til-the-election, starry-eyed speech here.
    What don't "we" understand about the fact that cars got 35 miles per gallon... 40 years ago!?  
    What don't "we" understand that this should've been the minimum back in the Carter Administration?
    Coal-to-Liquids?  Hello Illinois coal lobby.
    Nuclear power?  How about "we have got to see if there are ways for us to store the radioactive material in a safe, environmentally sound way" for oxymoron of the year!
    And running a close second in Lane 5 is "If the technology exists for us to use coal in a clean fashion..."!  
    Closing fast in Lane 7 is "I believe that relying on the ingenuity of the free market.." !
    Read between these lines.  It says "F*#k you, America, coal and oil companies rule!"
    Ethanol?  It's ALREADY a bust.  Just do a google search... or read the latest issue of Rolling Stone mag (yes, even those hippy rock journos are 'in the know'!).  
    How about sense!?  Where's the Peace Plan?  
    Where's the "By golly, Al Gore's right!  We're in trouble and gotta do something now!"
    I like the energy Obama still brings.  He's fighting.  He's saying a lot of the right things.  But he's getting knocked around.
    Yes, if only Dennis Kucinich was 20 points (and 6 inches) higher in the race...
  6. michaelconley Posted 5:42 am
    31 Jul 2007

    Kucinich vs. ObamaI believe Dennis Kucinich still deserves our support as the most comprehensive thinker on the subject of ecology, peace and a hopeful future. As such, he deserves the green vote.  I don't live in a hole and  I know how he's polling.  In the end, I would be happy to support Obama in a general election, but right now, we need to push all of America to listen to Dennis Kucinich and learn from him.  

    Comments to others:  coal to liquid certainly deserves some research, but not as much as renewable fuels -- shouldn't we be researching both? and wind and hydro?  we're going to be totally hybrid by 2050 anyway; perhaps there is more merit than we might think in liquid coal if I understand Mr. Bridges post correctly.
  7. President Lindsay Posted 8:57 am
    31 Jul 2007

    I'm glad he's open to nuclear powerMillerOfReality writes: "Nuclear power?  How about "we have got to see if there are ways for us to store the radioactive material in a safe, environmentally sound way" for oxymoron of the year!"
    There actually is a way to use nuclear waste for fuel instead of storing it, which will be covered in my upcoming book. I've been trying like mad to enlighten the Obama campaign on this very subject, but it is like pulling teeth. He seems to already have such an impenetrable bubble in place that fresh ideas from the outside just bounce off. All the candidates seem to be the same in that regard, even Richardson.
    When it comes to actually solving global warming, it boils down to politics. The end of global warming necessarily implies the end of the fossil fuel industries. Are any of the candidates prepared to promote the dissolution of the most powerful industries on the planet? I would like to think so, but one must consider the millions of lives that have been sacrificed on the altar of oil, and wonder whether a president who defied them would simply be added to the heap. This is a tough nut to crack.
  8. VivaldiCO Posted 12:34 pm
    31 Jul 2007

    Obama on EnergyWhy ignore the other candidates?  Gravel and Dodd and Biden may not stand a chance, but TV and the Internet have given them a voice they could not have had before.  Why should Grist deny them one?  
    Kucinich is viewed as not having a chance, but then he doesn't get many chances to speak, does he?  Why doesn't Grist provide a platform for him?  We need his voice for as long as possible.
    Edwards could actually upset the front-runners. He could win in areas where they will not.  He shouldn't be seen as "fringe" by Grist.  He should be right there in the main stream.  
    As for what Obama has to say, most of it is fine, but it's shallow.  His heart's in the right place, and so we can trust that he will choose advisors who are deeper than he is.  
    But I wish Grist would give Kucinich and Edwards the time to counteract the time they DON'T get on TV.
  9. Lisa Hymas's avatar

    Lisa Hymas Posted 3:23 pm
    31 Jul 2007

    More interviews to comeNever fear, VivaldiCO. Grist will be publishing interviews with all of the Democratic presidential candidates and as many of the Republicans as agree to talk to us. Read the Edwards interview here, and check here for more interviews over the coming days and weeks.  
  10. Iredeu Posted 1:12 am
    01 Aug 2007

    Coal to LiquidsI feel that when we are talking about developing an alternative (CTL) to current petroleum based fuels, it is somewhat unfair to put in a pre-requisite that it has to emit 20% less CO2 than current solutions. Any technology that is in its infant stages needs a level playing field. Mind you, I would be FOR putting that 20% pre-requisite for CTL in place, but I think in that case you would have to be FOR the exact same cap of 20% on CO2 emissions from current petroleum based fuels. Then the government would take the lead without influencing the free market.

    Watch what the oil prices will do, and you'll know we can't do without CTL, which is much cleaner than anything we have that is petroleum based. Don't give it a disadvantage compared to current dirtier 'solutions'

    Thanks
  11. dreamer Posted 10:32 am
    03 Aug 2007

    Obama on overpopulation?Grist, please include a question on candidates' stand on overturning Bush policies regarding distributing info on birth control and family planning choices.   Wasn't there a ban on any US-state-funded clinics, domestic or abroad, to even furnish basic information on birth control?  
    In assesing a candidate's environmental policies, I'd like to know his or her stance regarding science vs. religion: is he or she open to assesing facts, or will his or her religious background cloud decisionmaking?
  12. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 3:59 pm
    05 Aug 2007

    Mazola Anyone?

    The Corn Guy would love to make us take a bath in ethanol.
  13. Jesse Jenkins's avatar

    Jesse Jenkins Posted 4:11 am
    15 Aug 2007

    Leadership or follower-ship?Senator Obama proudly states that he's the sponsor of "the most aggressive global warming bill in the Senate" - the Sanders-Boxer bill which calls for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
    My question for Senator Obama (and one I wished Grist would have asked) is if he's so proud to support this strong legislation, then why did Senator Obama wait until May, five months after the bill was introduced to sign on as a co-sponsor?  
    Chris Dodd didn't wait - he signed on as an original co-sponsor of the bill.
    John Edwards was the first major candidate to publicly endorse an 80% by 2050 cut in emissions and made it a central part of his comprehensive energy plan released in March.  Not only did he publicly endorse the emissions target, he also immediately called on his supporters through multiple email alerts to urge their representatives and senators to co-sponsor Sanders and Boxers' bill.
    In April, hundreds of thousands of citizens joined the Step it UP! day of action and called for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.  Dozens of representatives co-sponsored the house version of the Sanders-Boxer bill (sponsored by Henry Waxman) after Step it UP!.
    So where was Senator Obama this whole time?  Why did he - and Senator Clinton, who endorsed the bill on the same day as Obama - wait until May?  Why didn't he send email alerts to his supporters asking them to call on their representatives and senators to co-sponsor the bill?  What has Obama done to lead his colleagues, his supporters and American citizens on this crucial issue that's supposedly so important to him?
    We desperately need a strong leader in the Oval Office in 2009 committed to solving the climate crisis.  Think about the timeline above and ask yourself if Senator Obama has exhibited leadership, or follower-ship on this issue...
  14. Jesse Jenkins's avatar

    Jesse Jenkins Posted 6:15 am
    15 Aug 2007

    Wrong Answer!Question: Do you support a freeze in the U.S. on new coal development until these clean-coal technologies are commercially available?
    Obama: I believe that relying on the ingenuity of the free market, coupled with a strong carbon cap, is the best way to reduce carbon emissions rather than an arbitrary freeze on development.
    Mnnnn!  Wrong Answer!  Try again...
    First rule of holes: when you're in one, STOP DIGGING.  Then figure out a way to get out.  When it comes to the climate crisis, we're in a pretty damn deep hole, and a president who's not willing to stop the raft of new, conventional, pulverized (aka DIRTY) coal plants currently proposed across the country (more than 100 of them) doesn't impress me with his commitment to tackle the problem.  
    John Edwards has said 'No way!' to new coal plants that don't sequester emissions.  Hillary is at least wiling to say we shouldn't be subsidizing anything that makes the problem worse (a step short of banning new coal plants I suppose).  But Obama wants to let the market work things out?!  You'd better be ready to put a pretty damn stiff price on carbon then and avoid grandfathering in any plants currently on the drawing board, Mr. Obama, so that the market functions properly and keeps those new coal plants from being built.
    Check this out to see how important it is that we stop the construction of ANY new coal-fired power plants that do not sequester 90% or more of their emissions.
  15. subboy Posted 2:54 pm
    16 Sep 2007

    check some real factshorroz -- Obama said nukes are off the table with Iran.  off, not on.  sheesh.
    and LCV has an entire website devoted to the presidential candidates.  20 in-depth questions, including population and social justice.  some people are going to ride his early liquified coal stand to death, but that's to be expected.  the LCV, on the other hand, gives Obama a 96% rating -- by far, the highest of all the candidates.  yes, in practice, Obama does better than Kucinich.
  16. piglet's avatar

    piglet Posted 5:40 am
    09 Oct 2007

    MISSING THE POINT ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGY?!Why do we continue to even consider nuc energy until we have put our great scientific minds to neutralizing the waste?  We need to remember that the nuclear waste already created is sitting around and has devastating potential for leaking into our ground and sea waters.

    And with wind energy that are build in the natural flyways; what about the tens of thousands of birds that get slaughtered as they migrate?

    So...solar energy.  The one thing we all know is that the sun rises and sets every day.  Surely we can create a system where solar energy is powered onto the grid.   We have plenty of desert in the world and everyone has a roof on their house...e.g. Denmark.

    We need to take into account the entire eco system while making these crucial decisions; as we see with ethanol and corn prices for food going through the roof, let alone all the water just growing the crop consumes. (clean drinking water is fast running out)

    Piglet  
  17. crumbrye Posted 4:38 am
    08 Jan 2008

    Obama Bringing Back Nixon & the 1970's?http://greenpieceblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/with-obama-is- ...
  18. nancylaplaca Posted 7:41 am
    08 Jan 2008

    Obama doesn't get itWhat a shame.
  19. homeboy Posted 3:56 pm
    10 Jan 2008

    o..he gets it alright...When he says he's going to make MAJOR changes to our usage of energy, and that his cosponsored bill will upset some people in the energy sector, he's not making a small insignificant statement. I've read that the oil industry is nearly 3-4% of our country's spending which is a staggering amount if you think of the trillions of dollars that represents. This won't be a little shakeup, this will bring about a huge onslaught of rallying and pickets, and a huge difference for nearly every company that uses electricity even on a small scale.  I've been supporting and promoting Barack Obama for over a year and a half nonstop. This man knows what it takes to get people off their butts and to make a real change for the better in this world. If he's stepping near the edge of not producing a good result, he will listen to his fellow Americans unlike some unmentionable presidents we've had in office.
  20. foreverhopeful Posted 1:19 am
    25 Jan 2008

    Obama's One Big ThingSenator Obama has received the highest ranking from the League of Conservation Voters of any candidate for president.  And, when asked if he could "make one change in the world, enact one piece of legislation . . . what would it be?" He responded responded:  
    "I would enact a bold energy policy because I think that we could save so much money, engineer such a resurgence in our economy and solve climate change all at one time. And it would improve our national security posture. So you get a three-fer. It helps our environment, our economy and our national security and it would free up resources over time to deal with what I think is the most important domestic issue which is health care, and I think it would help us strategically on the international stage."
    Pretty spectacular.

  21. greengo Posted 1:28 am
    09 Feb 2008

    Obama's environmental policy questioned.Obama seems to be great with rhetoric, but can we actually pin him down on anything... My wife has written a letter to Senator Obama, to see it, please go here: http://greengolingo.blogspot.com/
    Feel free to post this on, as i think it really addresses a couple of critical issues.
  22. greeniemeanie Posted 12:42 pm
    23 Feb 2008

    I object to the statementGrist makes that "all is forgiven" because he released an environmental plan.
    No. There are many red flags involved with this guy.
  23. AuntBeth Posted 1:04 pm
    23 Feb 2008

    About that LCV scoreNonsense. Once again with Obama we have a limited record to judge him by.
    Check his lifetime score, and you find 2 years. 1 ranked 100 and one 95.
    Then check Hillary. We also have a 100 year, and a 95 year. She has more yearsm, and several with lower scores but she still gets a lifetime score of 90.
    Not "by far" by any means. Limited number of years.
    I have serious questions about Obama and nukes, and Obama and coal. I am thankful he can be pressured and his stances have become greener as people have raised doubts, but that's not what matters in the long run.

  24. AuntBeth Posted 1:06 pm
    23 Feb 2008

    About that LCV scoreNonsense. Once again with Obama we have a limited record to judge him by.
    Check his lifetime score, and you find 2 years. 1 ranked 100 and one 95.
    Then check Hillary. We also have a 100 year, and a 95 year. She has more years, and several with lower scores but she still gets a lifetime score of 90.
    Not "by far" by any means. Limited number of years, and not enough to make that kind of judgment by.
    I have serious questions about Obama and nukes, and Obama and coal.
  25. AtomicWarBaby Posted 11:53 pm
    19 Mar 2008

    Barack the Vote! Obama has mineOBAMA did the one "environmental" act which showed me he's willing to do what it takes to make our Nation's AIR cleaner, & less fllled with Toxic Poisonous Pollution:
    It's real Simple, & one-fifth of all Americans can also take this ONE action:
    He QUIT CIGARETTE SMOKING.
    My Lungs & the Lungs of my 2 grandkids, who have childhood ASTMA, as does my daughter-in-law, THANK Obama, & every Smoker who quits. (Myself,I have "adult onset Asthm, ironically CAUSED by smoking, from the Age of 14 (PRIME target age for tobacco industry to hook us: we're kIDS!) until the Age of 34, when THANK God both Surgeon C. EVERETT KOOP's "Smoke-Free Class of 2000" project for kids & his gutsy (against massive political pressure from Pres. REAGAN, who appointed him) campaign to educate & encourage Americans about Smoking & Health, & being a True "ENVIRONMENTALIST"!
    Because where do most of us spend most of our time?  INDOORS, breathing INDOOR Air.  Dr. KOOP helped make our AIR CLEANER, & inspired so many Americans like myself to quit.
    Thankfully also, the NICOTINE GUM came on the market then, or we wouldn't have been able to quit, a lot of us!
    Bill Clinton, he is a CIGAR Smoker, as BUSH has been known to smoke Cigars also. (Don'tknow what ELSE Bush does with cigars, we know what Bill does with them); Arnold Schwartzenegger is one of Cigar Industry's loyal "Celebrity Smoker "PIMPS", who help promote cigar smoking in return to financial & other rewards.
    The REPUBLICANS are dying to "roll back" what progress has been achieved, toward creating Smoke-FREE Public Air Space for all Americans to be able to "breathe free", because they are so in BED with Big Tobacco, they might as well be kissing gay cousins or incestuous brothers!
    I don't THINK Hillary Clinton smokes Cigars, but who the heck knows? She sure wears the Pants Suits, that's for sure! Ha!
    McCain?  He'll go along with the TobaccoIndustry, his 15-yrs. younger second wife is a Beer Distributor Company family "heiress", it is HER money that paid for his political campaign to get him into the Senate, along with other Special Interests Lobbyists backing.
    So, I'll stick with Obama. He's so right in so many other ways, & he had the WILLPOWER to kick the Nicotine addiction.  That's like major willpower. Now he's an "ex-smoker" he won't be able to stand tobacco smoke, either!
  26. green8659 Posted 2:35 am
    25 May 2008

    I have my doubtsHe doesn't specify anything in detail and that always worries me.
  27. sarewx Posted 8:43 am
    29 Jul 2008

    Realism in the Energy IndustryFirstly, I would like to clear the record for nuclear technology and its competitors.  Nuclear energy is clean, and there IS a safe way to dispose of the material.  The government and general public are so ignorant of this fact, that very often the "Nukular" energy spends more time battling politics than doing what it needs to do.
    Per KWH, nuclear energy's radiation emissions are SIGNIFICANTLY less than what coal produces.  Wind power kills birds by the thousands, hydro kills fish and other aquatic life thats essential to the food chains, but Nuke does not.  Solar would be the way to go if we had a more efficient way of capturing the sun's energy, but until we have Fusion energy, or an efficient form of Solar energy capture, the best option we have is Nuclear Fission Reactors.
    Regarding Obama, I think its just silly that people want to "Pin" him down on stances or opinions on specific energy plans.  He can't be pinned down because he is an excellent candidate, and does not stick to his guns on a specific technology or course of action.  If you read what he is saying, you would come to the understanding that he simply wants to do whats best for the environment and for our people.  He is a man of ideas, where his idea is that we need to fix things, and his opinion will change based upon what the best course of action is.  If you don't understand that, please don't waste your time posting.  Trying to pin him down and attack him is all you really want to do, because all the ideas out there currently have flaws, and you want to point them out.  Good job, no one else here has figured out that most of the current ideas are not ideal.  Enter realism.
    We can't just shut down the coal plants or ignore the coal industry, our energy grids would fail, and our slumping economy would almost recede into a full depression.  I think he is making the best decisions that anyone could make in his position.  Please remember that he has to remain in favor with his party, his people, and other countries.  You can't just shut down "evil" markets, you have to slowly push them into "healthy" markets.
    Wake up.  Obama is the best candidate we have for cleaning up the environment in a realistic way.
  28. goliath0825 Posted 10:25 am
    24 Sep 2008

    Clean energy changeSolar Power is infinite and clean. Being cost effective is one issue. It being a free renewable source of energy, the cost will pay for itself time and time again so its the most cost effective source I can think of. Another issue is space to have solar farms. Well why cant we utilize the space that is already there? A small solar panel on every telephone pole, wouldnt that solve that problem?

    Nuclear Power in my frame of mind is still depleteing a natural source of fossil fuel, Uranium. The supplies for that is running low as well.

    The more energy one country can create the stronger that country will be. In that thought if every homeowner was to participate in solar power and supply at least 50% of their own energy would strengthen the economy.

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Series Intro
Interviews and info on the presidential candidates' environmental positions 53
Grist interviews Vilsack; Vilsack quits presidential race 2
A look at Barack Obama's environmental platform and record 11
An interview with Barack Obama about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 28
A look at John Edwards' environmental platform and record 1
An interview with John Edwards about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 15
A look at Dennis Kucinich's environmental platform and record 6
An interview with Dennis Kucinich about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 34
A look at Chris Dodd's environmental platform and record 0
An interview with Chris Dodd about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 1
A look at Bill Richardson's environmental platform and record 1
An interview with Bill Richardson about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 7
A look at Mike Gravel's environmental platform and record 1
An interview with Mike Gravel about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 5
A look at Hillary Clinton's environmental platform and record 7
An interview with Hillary Clinton about her presidential platform on energy and the environment 32
A look at the environmental record of Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running mate 1
An interview with Joe Biden about energy and the environment 2
A look at John McCain's environmental platform and record 1
An interview with John McCain about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 9
An interview with Mike Huckabee about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 2
A look at Mike Huckabee's environmental platform and record 2
An interview with Sam Brownback about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 1
A look at Sam Brownback's environmental platform and record 0
An interview with Tom Tancredo about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 7
A look at Tom Tancredo's environmental platform and record 0
An interview with Ron Paul about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 55
A look at Ron Paul's environmental platform and record 6
A look at Rudy Giuliani's environmental platform and record 1
A look at Mitt Romney's environmental platform and record 4
A look at Duncan Hunter's environmental platform and record 0
A look at Fred Thompson's environmental platform and record 0
An interview with Ralph Nader about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 9
A look at Ralph Nader's environmental platform and record 3
Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney talks to Grist 19
An interview with Bob Barr about his presidential platform on energy and the environment 3
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