Platform Six: Environment

Greetings.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050 and also cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels. To assist in the cutting of foreign oil imports and through knowing that transportation accounts for 70 percent of US oil consumption, Clinton wants to increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030, and $20 billion of “Green Vehicle Bonds” to help US automakers retool their plants to meet the standards. She also supports a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid for in part by oil companies, to fund investments in alternative energy. Clinton also promotes an aggressive comprehensive energy efficiency agenda to reduce electicity consumption by changing the ways utilities do business.

The other Democratic candidate, Barack Obama also supports the reduction of carbon emissions by 80 percent of the 1990 levels by 2050. To also help with greenhouse gas emissions, Obama wants to develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands, or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Much like Clinton, Obama wishes to double fuel economy standards by retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers. Along with these, Obama wants to invest in a skilled clean technologies workforce and help workers and industries adapt to clean technology development and production. Obama wants to establish a federal investment program to help manufacturing centers modernize and Americans learn the new skills they need to produce green products.

On the other side of the presidential race, Republican candidate John McCain feels committed to clean air and water, and to conserving open space. He feels that America has a duty to the resources upon which the quality of American life depends. McCain pushes the ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, and ample greenspace is a responsibility of Americans. He believes that ignoring the problems poses a serious and unacceptable threat to the environment, economy and national security. McCain wants to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy.