Straight from the Candidate's Dot Com, Part 1

by Andrea Millar — May 12, 2008

Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama recently came out with an environmentally charged statement: he is officially dubious about the future of corn-based ethanol, and he'd like to prioritize food over fuel. Senators Clinton and McCain soon more or less echoed this statement. This may have more effect with his constituents, especially in his home base of Illinois, than one would think. While we wait for the waves to really start rippling, let's take a look at Obama's environmental profile. From the Obama campaign Web site, let's do a brief run-through of his policy.

Obama's major focus is on oil and emissions, making the basis of his platform legislation extending to 2030 and 2050. Forget about a 4-year term; he plans to invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy. One interesting item straight from the paperwork is the optimistic language about commercial-scale renewable energy, plug-in hybrids, and low emissions coal plants. That's right, coal plants. When was the last time you had warm green fuzzy feelings about coal plants? Somebody check this out on the real. I'm actually sort of hoping it isn't cloud talk; here in California, the majority of electricity for those plug-in hybrids will be coming from coal plants. Yeah, I want an overhaul too, but I'm OK with improving what we've got for the time being.

'Bam's also got framework describing the development of a "Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce," fueled by the proceeds of the cap-and-trade program he's going to mandate for big polluters. He also points to a new Green Jobs Corps as a way to employ economically disengaged youth. Sounds a lot like Bush's recent language about Green Collar Jobs. Either way, it'll be interesting to see another possible shift away from consumerism and towards a more service-based economy. Worked well in the '30's, sort of.

Another signpost: by 2025, Obama wants 25% of electricity coming from clean, renewable resources. And he wants a Digital Smart Grid. I don't know what that is, but maybe if you go to Harvard, you can invent such things on the spot. Although its Wikipedia entry could use some editing, apparently it's a real thing with its first official mention in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Remember the Dem Congress' 100 Days thing? Yep, it was part of that. Apparently it involves rearranging the current system in the spirit of feedback-oriented Internet-like principles. As a result, CO2 emissions will go down and efficiency will be up. Apparently Obama's a Fritz Lang fan too!

Obama finishes with a pledge towards global inclusiveness, to involve the US once again in a global dialogue about emissions and climate change (by the way, is "climate change" just a politically safe way of saying "global warming"? Does it make you sound cooler when you give a speech?) There's no mention of the Kyoto Protocols, but we'll take your word for it when you say you're gonna sit down with the world's largest emitters and work something out, Mr. Senator. In a time where action is needed now and the 2008 election looms, what else can we do?