The Plans: Energy

John McCain Will Commit Our Country To Expanding Domestic Oil Exploration. " Undoubtedly in reference to his support for offshore drilling. Most people are aware, as experts have said, that drilling off the coast of this nation will not produce even a drop of oil for at least ten years. Long after McCain's term has ended. The fact is that oil has to be found to be drilled. Finding oil is hard enough to find WITHOUT millions of gallons of salt water sitting on top of it (this whole energy crisis is proof of that). After this oil is found, a rig must be built and oil extracted, which, again, is hard enough to do sans the many atmospheres of H2O weighing it down. His second bullet is a reworded version of this one so we move on.

Here McCain addresses the "clean" aspect of his energy plan with statements of his support for a zero-emission car tax rebate and funding for a privately developed battery for use in plug in hybrids. He also addresses the need to move away from food-corn based ethanol to cellulostic ethanol which is produced essentially from waste. Here is where things get really hazy because McCain's site only sparsely uses an affirmative vow to action on a given issue. Read for yourself:

"John McCain will issue a Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America, in the form of a single and substantial tax credit for the consumer based on the reduction of carbon emissions. He will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys a zero carbon emission car"

(It should be noted that $5,000 is no where near enough to offset the cost of a fuel cell vehicle compared to a gasoline one, and that a similar tax credit ALREADY exists.)

"A $300 million prize should be awarded for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."

"John McCain Supports Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) And Believes They Should Play A Greater Role In Our Transportation Sector. "

"John McCain Believes Alcohol-Based Fuels Hold Great Promise As Both An Alternative To Gasoline And As A Means of Expanding Consumers' Choices."

He follows this with:

"The second generation of alcohol-based fuels like cellulosic ethanol, which won't compete with food crops, are showing great potential. "

a simple statement on the nature of cellulosic ethanol and no plan for implimenting it, or even a commitment to do so. In fact, no part of his website's Energy Policy includes any form of guaranteed governmental support for renewable energy of any kind. The closest authentically green energy gets to a comitment from John McCain is this: "John McCain believes in an even-handed system of tax credits that will remain in place until the market transforms sufficiently to the point where renewable energy no longer merits the taxpayers' dollars."

"John McCain Will Effectively Enforce Existing CAFE Standards."

Excellent! He will carry out his Constitutional duty as President to enforce a law Congress has already enacted...

I could take this blog much further addressing the rest of McCain's energy plan, but I'm sure you all will agree this is quite long enough. For the rest of the info I encourage you to go to his website and read about it, then be sure to visit Obama's for the comparison. Having read both policies I have personally drawn the conclusion that McCain's plan is essentially shooting in all directions hoping to hit something, unfortunately instead of having a detailed direction for our nation's energy future he has a series of statements that simplistically outline the nature of the problem. He's not offering real answers, just making statements hoping that people will ignore the fact that he has promised little more than to find more oil, and enforce existing regulations. The true nature of McCain's energy policy is probably best detailed by his accepting $1.3 million dollars from oil execs and lobbyists, and his loyal devotion to Bush's policies. McCain has voted with increasing support (100% this past year) for the President's plans on EVERYTHING.

Again, read McCain's written policy (if you can even get through the various errors in his web page) and tell me what plan or commitment is to be found.

Then go read Obama's, and I can promise it will be clear that he not only has a plan for change, it is the best plan for this nation's energy. Or just wait until next week when I will outline Obama's plan.
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