OBAMA ON NEW ENERGY

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Obama outlines energy policy
Philip Elliot, April 20, 2007 (AP via Yahoo news)

WHO
Democratic Illinois Senator Barack Obama, candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination

WHAT
The candidate’s statement on energy policy advocated a changeover in fuels which would reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of 32 million fewer cars. Obama has also proposed a bill to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFÉ) standard and co-sponsored a bill with Senator Lieberman (Independent, Connecticut) and Senator McCain (Republican, Arizona) to create a US carbon cap-and-trade system.

WHEN
The speech was Friday, April 20.

WHERE
The speech was the University of New Hampshire, standing in front of biofuel-powered campus buses.

WHY
As a Midwesterner, Obama represents corn belt farmers anxious to promote ethanol and biofuels. Following California Republican Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, Obama sees the fuel change adequate to reduce US CO2 emissions 5% by 2015 and 10% by 2020. He also advocates incentivizing research and investment.

QUOTES
Obama: "I believe we still have a chance to pass on a planet to our children that is cleaner and safer and more prosperous than we found it…This is our generation's moment to save future generations from global catastrophe...It will take a grass-roots effort to make America greener and end the tyranny of oil…"