America needs to become a leader in the "green fight"

by Suzia Van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

"We believe we will in fact create millions of jobs, millions of green jobs, if this is done. We will become energy efficient, we will save money and energy costs, we will invest in new technologies, and we will be the leader," said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA). She was joined by additional Senators at a press conference on releasing principles for global warming legislation. By coming together on very specific principles, Boxer says she believes "that this moment marks the beginning of our legislative effort" to pass global warming legislation.

"Raising the standard for fuel efficiency, the stimulus package, reducing our dependency on foreign oil, reducing the emission of CO2, improving our transportation system, are all good down-payments" said Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.), but the payment we really need is "a legislation whose principles are really laid out before all of us today. That is where the rubber hits the road. All the other is good, and all the other is important, but without this legislation, we are not going to get this job done."

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) wants us to join in the fight together and says that this battle is like a burning house "the fact of the matter is that if we don't put out the fire as it is, the whole house will be consumed," and continued with the statement that we don't have the luxury of time.

People understand that there is a deep recession and a financial crisis in our country but Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) said that, "We also understand that if we don't get a handle on global warming, cut back on green house gas emissions, move towards energy independence, which people have talked about for decades, if we don't do that, the economic situation, not to mention the environmental situation, becomes worst."

"Our earth is sending out her warnings, and we must listen" said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and "a green economy beckons us to a brighter future."

Candidate Moran explains his Virginia "success plan"

"I believe in the power of Virginian's to solve this energy crisis," said Brian Moran, a Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia during a conference call briefing which discussed his plan to protect the environment and build the energy economy.

Moran wants to put Virginia on a clear course to protect the environment, create green jobs and invest in renewable energy. "It certainly will be the most progressive, innovative, job creating environmental plan you will see in this campaign," claims Moran.

In order to create a plan for Virginia's future, Moran wants to "couple the need for a strong economy, creation of jobs, while protecting our environment."

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Should the U.S. go nuclear?

Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said that using more nuclear power plants to advance U.S. energy would be “inherently proliferation prone.” Patrick Moore, Co-Chairman of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition and Co-Founder of Greenpeace, countered saying nuclear power was “one of the safest technologies ever invented” and “You’d have to take over the United States of America to steal this stuff.”

At a debate today, Moore claimed that nuclear energy is clean and does not emit greenhouse gases. He also stated that “nuclear waste” is 95 percent reusable which can lead to recycling potential energy. He remarked that nuclear energy is the only type of alternative power that can “effectively replace fossil fuels.” Makhijani believed that using other forms of energy like wind and solar would allow the U.S. to be free of energy carbon emissions in 40 years.

Moore said that wind and solar energy are “inherently intermittent” and these types of energy can disappear “three or four days at a time” while nuclear energy is “reliable.” Makhijani stated he would rectify this problem by allowing for “some storage” of these types of energy so people could use it whenever they wanted. Makhijani also questioned Moore’s statements about power and cleanliness of nuclear power saying that if they were true, Wall Street “would be lining up” to build nuclear power plants. Makhijani joked that Wall Street thought it was okay to give out subprime mortgages, but they felt nuclear power was “too risky.”

Makhijani felt that using wind energy would be cheaper than nuclear energy, and one must take that into account in this economic crisis. He also said that the U.S. has the capacity to do it within its borders. Moore submitted that it would cost more presently but nuclear power eventually “pays for itself” and Moore added that solar energy presently would cost five times what nuclear energy costs.

Energy policy: Is there any right answer?

Speaking on the issue of offshore drilling, Fmr. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said, “You have to maximize oil production in the United States.”

In a discussion at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI), Gingrich advocated for clean coal technology calling the use of this technology “green conservatism.” Gingrich cautioned that if the United States tries other forms of technology too quickly, there is the possibility that the U.S. “doomed [itself] to no energy.” He called the costs of changing to other forms of energy such as wind, solar, and natural gas “a breathtaking investment.”

Gingrich was adamant that the U.S. does not have an energy crisis, but a “policy crisis.” He claimed that with its total range of resources, the U.S. “has the capacity to have ample energy at a reasonable price.”

Robert Hahn, Senior Fellow at AEI, said that offshore oil drilling would make little or no impact of domestic gas prices “anytime soon.” Hahn advised President -elect Obama to “limit his focus” on the issue of energy to potential investments and climate change. Hahn said that the potential jobs that would be opened by energy reform should not factor into Obama’s decisions. Hahn also cautioned that Obama not allow energy to turn “into complete political pork barrel” with potential wasted spending.

Irwin Stelzer, Senior Fellow and Director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Economic Policy, said the U.S. cannot run solely on domestic oil because it is “too few and too costly.” However, he said that renewable energy cannot replace fossil fuels because it is too difficult and expensive to attain. He put down the idea of nuclear energy because he believes Congress will not solve the issue of nuclear waste disposal. Stelzer was not in favor or natural gas because he doesn’t believe it can replace liquid energy. He said that the U.S. could practice conservation if U.S. citizens want to live “as the Japanese.” Stelzer said that the U.S. will probably remain “heavily dependent” on other countries for oil.

Secretary Paulson discusses U.S.-China dialogue

Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson made remarks about the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (S.E.D.) at an event hosted by the World Affairs Council in Washington, DC.

“We have learned that engagement works,” said Paulson, “engagement can help achieve meaningful tangible results that would not have been possible otherwise.” Paulson said that the S.E.D. has yielded results from economics and trade to product safety and transportation.

Paulson stressed the importance of the U.S.-China talks in helping to solve the current financials crisis. “It is critical that the United States, China and other major economies continue our vigorous efforts and take whatever further actions are necessary to stabilize the financial system,” said Paulson.

Paulson also discussed China’s increasing energy needs. “China is...the second largest consumer of oil behind the United States. Building cooperation and trust between our countries can help prevent competition over scarce energy resources.”