Biden calls for $50 billion in alternative energy

[jpak]

http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/200807/bidenonenergy071108.html

Sen. Joseph Biden called on the nation to invest $50 billion over the next five years in new energy technology that would reduce national dependence on foreign oil.

Biden also praised the contract between Bluewater Wind and Delmarva Power for an offshore wind farm off Rehoboth Beach, saying Delaware has taken a courageous step toward the alternative, renewable energy the nation needs.

Biden addressed more than 30 environmentalists, supporters and passers-by at the state park’s Great Dune Monday, July 14, and outlined his plan for freeing the nation from its dependence on expensive foreign oil.

The address came on the same day President George W. Bush announced he was lifting an executive ban on offshore oil drilling. Biden said the timing was coincidental, but offshore drilling, prohibited since the administration of George H.W. Bush, would do nothing to reduce fuel prices for as many as 20 years.

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[ladjf]

1. Better than nothing but not enough.

[Muttocracy]

2. thanks for posting; here's his press release on it:

BIDEN/LUGAR/MENENDEZ/HAGEL Bill Tackles International Climate Change by Funding Clean Technology

July 16, 2008

Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) today introduced legislation designed to create an International Clean Technology Deployment Fund. The Fund would be available to aid developing countries’ efforts to tackle climate change and would promote the international deployment of U.S. clean energy technology as an additional component to the United States’ overall international economic development assistance strategy. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) and members of the Committee, Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE), joined Sen. Biden in introducing the bill...

http://biden.senate.gov/press/press_releases/release/?id=38c6d08b-4b6d-43e4-97f2-69672428c245

[OneBlueSky]

3. let's see . . . that's about 4 months of war expenditures in Iraq . . .

seems to me we could and should do a whole lot better than that if we want to see some real, meaningful change . . .

[Inuca]

4. From the post just above yours

"The Fund would be available to aid developing countries’ efforts to tackle climate change and would promote the international deployment of U.S. clean energy technology as an additional component to the United States’ overall international economic development assistance strategy. "

It is not meant to fund efforts within the US. I think it is a great idea. Whether the amount is appropriate or not, I don't know.

[European Socialist]

5. I could use ten grand to buy a solar trailer.

If we had a decent government money would be available.

[jillan]

6. That is one of this things I respect most about Biden.

He is a champion for the environment. He has a 95% rating on environmental issues.

People don't realize that about him, they think Biden is only about foreign relations.