Barack Obama is a Democratic candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election. Mr. Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School, served for eight years in the Illinois State Senate and currently serves as a U.S. Senator from Illinois.

The Position

Senator Obama makes the following proposals via the environment issue page on his campaign website.

• Implement A 100% Auction Cap-and-Trade Program To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Invest In A Clean Energy Economy And Create American Jobs
• Invest In The Fastest, Cheapest Way To Reduce Emissions: Energy Efficiency
• Strengthen Our Oil Security And Energy Independence
• Make The U.S. A Leader In Combating Climate Change Around The World

Our Take

Senator Obama presents a very comprehensive plan that touches all aspects of the clean energy issue. His 100% Cap-And-Trade plan will set aside money for federal research on clean energy technologies. That money might be better spent by creating incentives for commercial organizations to develop and deploy systems that successfully generate clean energy.

Senator Obama is in an interesting position in that the state he represents is home to a large amount of coal fired generation. Coal fired powered plants are huge emitters of CO2 but at the same time provide a plentiful, low cost source of energy. It is good to see that he also supports the development of clean coal technologies so that we can continue to utilize the resource with a much lower impact to the environment.

John Edwards is Democrat and former one-term Senator from South Carolina. As a candidate, Edwards carries strong name recognition from his days as a Vice-Presidential candidate alongside John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election.

The Position

John Edwards believes that, “If we harness American ingenuity to reach for transformative change, we can emerge from the crisis of global warming with a new energy economy that stimulates innovation, brings the family farm back to life, and creates more than 1 million jobs in America’s farms and industries.”

The Edwards plan includes three specific initiatives:

• Development of a cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions.
• Creation of a new energy economy by investing in clean, renewable energy.
• Meeting electricity demand via increased efficiency.

According to the Edwards plan, America will see the following benefits from his position on clean energy, “…by 2025 America will import 7.5 million fewer barrels of oil a day, produce 65 billion gallons of ethanol and other biofuels a year, generate 25 percent of our electricity from renewable sources, and produce more than 2 billion fewer tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.”

Our Take

Edwards’ plan is quite detailed and worth reading. His proposal to gain clean energy investment capital by, “ending taxpayer giveaways for big oil companies, including special tax subsidies and sweetheart terms in offshore drilling leases.” is very similar to Hillary Clinton’s revenue generating plan. We wonder if taking from the oil companies and giving to the federal government is such a good idea. Why not create clean energy targets that allow oil companies (who are also energy companies) to keep their subsidies if they invest in clean technologies?

The John Edwards plan also includes healthy support for ethanol as the alternative fuel of the future. Once considered a strong contender as a clean energy fuel source, ethanol is being from an ethical these days. Since ethanol is made from corn, its use as a fuel source reduces stocks and makes the food source more expensive. So while ethanol may be good for the environment it may not be so good for the poor countries of the world.

Mr. Edwards definitely gains points for having a detailed plan that sets aside significant dollars for investments in clean energy technology including demand side measures to increase efficiency.

Hillary Clinton is a former First Lady and a two-term Senator from New York State. Mrs. Clinton is widely recognized as the Democratic front-runner for the 2008 Presidential Election.

The Position

Hillary Clinton’s plan is described on her website as, “…a bold and comprehensive plan to address America’s energy and environmental challenges that will establish a green, efficient economy and create as many as five million new jobs.” The plan includes mentions of a cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions, a $50 billion strategic energy fund and a mandatory fuel efficieny increase to 55-MPG by 2030.

Mrs. Clinton provides more details in a 14-page document titled Powering America’s Future. The plan includes the creation of a National Energy Council to ensure implementation of the plan.

Our Take

Hillary Clinton brings a specific plan to the table in addressing the future of clean energy in the United States. Whether this is the right plan will be the subject of intense debate. The proposed strategic energy fund is slated to be funded by oil companies. Remember that oil companies are also energy companies. They have a lot more expertise than the Federal Government in designing and developing energy technologies.

Mrs. Clinton’s point on job creation is a strong one. Future energy technologies do mean better, more secure jobs for Americans. Future energy technologies can bootstrap this country out of our current economic doldrums. The big issue in deciding for or against Hillary Clinton’s clean energy policy comes down to whether or not you’d rather see the government in charge of the development and deployment of our clean energy future.