Hillary is leading the way on tackling the energy crisis

I personally appreciate Senator Clinton's bold initiatives for sound energy policy. She has outlined a $150 billion energy plan, all paid for without creating more deficit spending. This is the kind of spending we need. All spending is not "bad" as some may have you believe, the Republicans love to spend more than Democrats, however Democrats have been labeled as the spenders. I understand that stereotype. The difference is Democrats try to find ways to pay for their spending, while our Republicans "friends" enjoy deficit spending. Roaring our country more into debt. Their spending priorities are out of wack. They feel they cannot afford to extend health coverage under SCHIP to more American children, but can funnel billions of dollars into Iraq monthly. Where ARE their priorities? Wow I get on a roll with these guys and can't stop, this blog was supposed to be about Clinton's energy plan!

ANYWAY! :) I feel Hillary Clinton's plan is the best plan to tackle the energy crisis. I know there have been issues with Gore and the Clintons, I do wonder if he will support her plan.

Check out the DesMoinesRegister article on the plan:

Clinton outlines $150 billion energy plan

Cutting reliance on oil imports helps climate, economy, security, she says

November 6, 2007

Cedar Rapids, Ia. - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday laid out a sweeping plan that she says would move the U.S. economy from petroleum-based to renewable energy, and turn back global warming in the process.

The 10-year, $150 billion proposal includes a long list of specific goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent and raising automobile fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2050.

It would require sacrifice on the part of the energy and auto industries and all Americans, akin to overcoming the Great Depression and winning World War II, the New York senator said at a plant where wind-energy turbines are manufactured.

"The task before us commands the same urgency and demands the same resolve. Tackling the energy crisis is the calling of our time. And when I'm president, it will be the calling of our nation. And it will involve all of us," Clinton told an audience of about 350 at Clipper Windpower, including area Democrats and Clipper employees.

In rolling out the majorpolicy plan, Clinton tied the need to reduce U.S. reliance on imported petroleum and carbon-based fuel in general as beneficial to the climate, economy and national security.

Among her plan's other goals are to cut U.S. oil imports by two-thirds by 2030, increase the energy coming from renewable sources to 25 percent by 2025 and spur the development of 5 million clean-energy jobs within 10 years.

It would also offer U.S. automakers a trade-off of $20 billion in bonds for updating plants to accelerate hybrid vehicle production, in return for the sharp increases in fuel economy standards. Likewise, Clinton proposed tax credits to consumers who purchase hybrid electric vehicles of up to $10,000.

"I believe that America should do what we do best, lead the innovation race," she said, likening her proposal to President Kennedy's call in 1960 for a round-trip, manned lunar mission.

Some energy policy experts described Clinton's proposal as ambitious and within reach, but not necessarily an easy sell in Congress.

"Is she going to roll this up into one bill and drop it on Jan. 21, 2009? I think not," said Daniel Weiss of the Center for American Progress, a Democrat-leaning policy group. "A lot of this is politically doable, but not instantly."

Other Democratic presidential candidates to offer comprehensive energy proposals are Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Weiss said two things distinguish Clinton's plan from the others. One is the level of detail in how it would be implemented, he said. The other is the provision to create a strategic energy fund, a $50 billion federal account made up of fees assessed to oil and gas companies and discontinued tax breaks to those industries.

This fund would help prime the renewable energy industry through government investment in energy efficiency, clean-coal technology, ethanol and other renewable fuels.

The remaining costs of the proposal would be financed through dedicating savings from closing loopholes for oil and gas producers and dedicating a portion of revenue from a cap-and-trade program.

The cap-and-trade provision involves allowing companies that produce greenhouse gas emissions to sell the credits they are granted for producing such pollutants. The proceeds from the system would be used in part to finance a program to help low-income Americans heat and cool their homes more efficiently.

Dodd, who has proposed taxing companies based on their greenhouse gas emissions, criticized Clinton's plan as not going far enough to require industry to rein in its contribution to global warming.

"I don't know how it would do in a public poll, but leading experts agree that a corporate carbon tax targeted at polluters is needed to reverse the effects of global warming," Dodd campaign communication director Hari Sevugan said.

Another key element of Clinton's plan is the establishment of a national energy council, led by a Cabinet-level national energy adviser, as a top adviser to the president.
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/NEWS09/711060392/1001/NEWS

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CHRIS MCLEOD