Western governors: 'Obama, act quickly on energy'

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The governors of the nation's largest energy-producing states are encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to quickly adopt a national energy policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The bipartisan Western Governors' Association has delivered Obama a four-page letter outlining what steps it believes his administration should take in his first 100 days in office to address the issue.

Among the recommendations are annually spending tens of billions of dollars to develop clean energy technology; establishing an 'aggressive' greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal to help stop global warming; and proposing a mandatory national system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through "market-based mechanisms."

"We must not repeat the mistakes of the past," says the letter signed by association chairman, Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, and vice chairman, Democratic Gov. Dem Brian Schweitzer of Montana. "The future of our nation depends on it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/27/financial/f113546S44.DTL&feed=rss.business

[LaurenG]

1. This is promising!

signed by association chairman, Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, and vice chairman, and Democratic Gov. Dem Brian Schweitzer of Montana.

"The future of our nation depends on it." I didn't think r's believed in greenhouse gases or alternative energy.

This good news.
edited

[Igel]

3. Some do, some don't.

Among those that do, there are those who want action taken.

Among those that want action taken, there are those who want it because it's in the common good ("common" being either worldwide or domestic), and those who want it because it's in their interest, however defined.

Take large energy producing states: They'd be first in line for billions of dollars of federal aid to develop energy that's likely to be more expensive than what's currently available; however, by taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, probably through a carbon tax, those energy sources would be more expensive, making renewable energy affordable (at least by comparison). By having the development be more top-down and in the hands of politicians, they'd be able to secure pre-eminence in energy production, to make sure the money went to develop the kinds of energy resources that their states could excel at, and therefore all but guarantee a large portion of their economies for the next generation; were it up to startups, who knows where the new companies would set up shop? Would electricity from ocean currents be a big deal, one that Utah would certainly miss out on? If so, what would replace the current coal/NG-based power production in Utah ... besides demolition of outdated power plants?

I don't know that Huntsman's in that category or not. But it's a possible category to place him in if the evidence turns out to be there, whether or not you think motives in this instance matter in the least.

[LaurenG]

4. Interesting - I think initially I don't care about motives but to nurture another

group of selfish me firsts for long, would be a travesty.

[SharonAnn]

5. First thing needs to be Universal Health Care. Make everything else wait.

Then, the push to get "their" programs (like energy plans) will mean that Universal Health Care gets done quickly and with little argument.

Put the people first!

[PaulaFarrell]

6. global warming won't wait n/t

[quidam56]

2. Tim Kaine where are you ?

Appalachia is a third world toxic waste dump. It's a sin. http://www.wisecountyissues.com