Candidates on the Issues: Energy

[redqueen]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3804792,00.html

The Associated Press chooses an issue three times a week and asks the presidential candidates a question about it.

ENERGY: Do you support increased U.S. drilling for oil and natural gas as part of your plan to bring the United States closer to energy self-sufficiency?

Democrats:

Sen. John Edwards: ``The first step to achieving energy independence is improving our fuel efficiency and using more homegrown renewable fuel. Beyond that, tapping more domestic fuel reserves, particularly natural gas, is an important step. We should obtain these reserves in a way that is sensitive to our environment, especially our greatest natural treasures. I will never drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and I will continue the moratorium on new drilling leases off our coasts.''

Sen. John Kerry: No response.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich: ``I strongly oppose any increase in drilling for oil and natural gas. I do not believe these bring us closer to energy self-sufficiency. In fact, I believe that our current administration's steadfast reliance on fossil fuels does nothing except drive this country further into an energy debt. What we need to do is vigorously pursue so-called ``alternative'' energy sources-hydrogen, solar, wind, ocean, geothermal, and others we've not yet discovered. These are the energy sources of the future. Not only will these wean us from dwindling fossil fuel supplies, they will also reduce the extent to which Middle Eastern oil fields loom as potential strategic or military targets.''

Al Sharpton: No response.


Republican:

President Bush: No response.

[BruinAlum]

1. Kerry has a comprehensive Energy Plan

Reduce our Dependence on Foreign Oil

John Kerry has outlined a comprehensive energy plan that will tap America’s initiative and ingenuity to strengthen our national security, grow our economy, and protect our environment. Kerry’s plan will increase and enhance domestic energy sources and provide incentives to help Americans use energy more cleanly and efficiently. When sixty-five percent of the world’s oil reserves lie beneath the Persian Gulf states and only 3 percent lie beneath America, we cannot drill our way to independence. We can, however, develop and deploy clean energy technologies that will make us more efficient and allow us to capitalize on domestic and renewable sources of energy. John Kerry’s plan for a renewable energy trust fund to invest in the development of renewable energy will reduce our oil dependence by more than 2 million barrels of oil a day – about the same amount we import from the Persian Gulf. Kerry’s plan will also create 500,000 new jobs over the next decade and work toward producing 20 percent of US energy from renewable fuels by 2020.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/

Several specifics listed here:
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/plan.html

[zulchzulu]

2. Does this thread insinuate Kerry has no energy plan?

Well he does:

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/plan.html

Snip:

"Making the United States a Safer, Cleaner and Stronger Nation

Creates 500,000 New Jobs Over the Next Decade and Provides Assistance to Assure American Industries Will Lead the New Energy Economy.

John Kerry has outlined an energy plan that will reduce our dependence on Mideast oil, assure that American industries and ingenuity will lead the new energy economy, and protect our environment. Americans spend more than $20 billion each year on oil from the Persian Gulf -- often from nations that are unstable and hostile to our interests and our values.  Kerry believes that we must end this dangerous dependence because it leaves American security and the American economy vulnerable. Kerry’s plan will reduce oil dependence by two million barrels of oil a day, as much as we currently import from the Middle East."

Kerry also links the environment with his energy plan:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/long_enviro.pdf

[redqueen]

3. No - just posting what I found at the Guardian n/t

[sangh0]

4. What a joke!

As if the Gaurdian (it's a UK paper, isn't it?) is the primary source for a candidates positions.

requeen knows how to get to the Kerry website. S/he just decided not to.

[lams712]

5. Just another issue Dennis is "RIGHT" about.....

...DK is the only true progressive in the race.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. The League of Conservation Voters Might Disagree

With a 96.5% rating and an endorsement, Kerry is doing fairly progressively. Public Citizen also puts him at the top of their lists year after year.

[lams712]

7. I hope you didn't think that I was necessarily criticizing John Kerry.....

...I was just pointing out that I prefer Dennis Kucinich. I'm sure Washington insider lobbyist groups love Sen. Kerry ;-).

Seriously, there are some good things about Sen. Kerry's energy policy proposals. I was just stating a preference for Dennis Kucinich.