Richardson's energy plan: "Raised the bar on all the rest."

[seasat]

Carl Pope, the Executive Director of the Sierra Club writes:

But there is one presidential candidate with enormous depth on the issue, and he's just raised the bar on all the rest. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson served as Secretary of Energy in the Clinton Administration. Today, at the New America Foundation, he delivered his new energy approach. Dave Hamilton, Director of our Energy and Global Warming program, advised me that "his 18-page energy policy is much more aggressive than anything we've seen so far from the candidates. It is also significantly better-elaborated in theory with regard to where we end up."

Dave Roberts of Grist writes:

As of today, Bill Richardson has become the boldest, most visionary Democratic presidential candidate on climate and energy policy.

The League of Conservation Voters issued this statement:

Of all the candidates’ plans to date, Richardson sets the highest goals for reducing global warming pollution and increasing production from renewable energy sources.

Here's the outline of the plan:

Goal 1--By 2020, dramatically reduce oil consumption by as much as 10 million through a series of bold measures:

• Get low and zero petroleum plug-in cars into the marketplace, while sharply reducing the carbon emissions from our electric sector. The pure-electric vehicle offers simplicity and performance for an average daily commute in our larger metro areas, while the plug-in electric car or truck provides more range and flexibility for people who drive longer distances, as it can extend gas mileage above 100 miles per gallon.
  
• Create a well-to-wheels low carbon fuel requirement that reduces carbon impact of our liquid fuels by 30% by 2020, including ethanol and biodiesel. Requiring conventionally powered cars and trucks, to be flex fuel capable and provide tax credits to the first 10% of gasoline retailers who install renewable fuel pumps.
  
• Push fuel economy standards to 50 miles per gallon by 2020.
  
• Reduce oil consumption for other modes of transportation-ships, trains, trucks and planes through new technologies, such as fuel-switching to electricity and renewable fuels.
  

Goal 2 -- Create new efficiencies and energy sources in the electrical sector

• Call for a national renewable portfolio standard of 30% by 2020, rising to 50% by 2040 -- thus mandating utilities to provide a certain amount of renewable energy in the electricity sold to every consumer.
  
• Push for a law requiring a 20% improvement in energy productivity by 2020. This 20 by 20 proposal has been studied by the Western Governors Association and will save western customers $21 billion a year by 2020.
  

Goal 3 -- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2040.

• Start with a market-based cap and trade system. By 2020 utilities and industry will be allowed to emit 80% as much global warming pollution as they do today. Combined with transportation sector savings, these changes will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020.
  
• Move to carbon-clean coal using safe, long-term carbon disposal or sequestration, and deploy these carbon-clean coal technologies here and around the world.
  

Goal 4 -- Capitalize and invest in America's strengths in science and technology

• Establish a national energy innovation trust fund with a one-time funding commitment to provide needed research and technology support, invest in our world-leading institutions and science and technology programs.
  

Goal 5 -- America must lead by example and become a beacon of the New Energy Future.

• Immediately return to the international negotiating table and support mandatory limits on global warming pollution and keep atmospheric carbon below 450 parts per million.
  
• Cooperate with the European Union, the World Bank, the Asian partnership, the UN and our allies around the world to finance the small incremental cost of "doing it right."
  
• Work closely with fast-growing nations like China, Brazil, South Africa, and India so that they use new, low-carbon technologies to help meet their energy demands.
  
• Renew our relations with our largest oil supplies, Mexico and Canada, which supply about 20% of our oil and create a North American Energy Council to stabilize the oil and gas trade, build a continental electrical grid, help bring energy resources and productivity to market throughout the continent and develop a regional system for carbon trading.
  

To establish credibility on an issue like this it helps to have some experience in the field. Here are a few of Bill Richardson's past accomplishments in addressing the issues of global warming and energy conservation.

• Sponsored bill to increase energy efficiency of federal buildings while US representative.
  
• Encouraged international action on climate change in his 1998 speech to the UN.
  
• Sponsored research into renewable energy while DOE Secretary.
  
• Increased appliance energy usage standards while DOE secretary.
  
• Served on the board of Trustees for Natural Resources Defense Council.
  
• Signed an executive order to implement a strategy to reduce green house gas emissions.
  
• Joined with 5 other Western states to work together in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  
• Enacted bills to increase the use of renewable energy in NM.
  
• Supported and signed the strongest bill in the country to preserve landowner's rights from oil and gas drilling.
  
• Enacted several bills that included: a tax credit for carbon capture, required 5% biodiesel blend by 2012, raised standards limiting mercury emissions, tax credits for renewable energy, and tax credits for water conservation.
  
• Joined the climate registry with 31 other states.
  

He has an impressive track record on this issue and I didn't cover all of his accomplishments. As an earth scientist this is an important issue to me and I want someone that can walk the walk not just talk the talk.

[papau]

1. he is also pushing plug in hybrids and cellulose ethanol research-its the best energy plan out there

n/t

[seasat]

6. Surprisingly, he's not real big on nuclear energy.

I thought with Los Alamos lab nearby, he would have been more pro-nuclear power. I watched Richardson's Google candidate interview and he down played it as part of an energy policy. He was worried about waste disposal and said that he would push for funding for research into reprocessing the waste into something more inert. He's not a big supporter of the nuclear waste dumps like Yucca Mountain. I was also researching some of the bills he sponsored while a representative and he had several that addressed nuclear waste and environmental affects of nuclear materials.

[papau]

14. nuclear waste dumps like Yucca Mountain vs reprocessing and later disposal - French opt'ed for 2nd

choice.

Nuke seems a must - but Yucca seems it might be a mistake.

[patrice]

2. It is my opinion that Richardson also set the standard for Iraq plans. nm

[skipos]

3. I don't agree with him on everything, but I think he would be the best Pres of the bunch

Nice to see him surge in latest NH poll.

[seasat]

4. I'm the same way.

I don't agree with Richardson on everything either. I figure that if I agree with someone 100% there's either something wrong with them or me. I used to naively list what I disagreed with Richardson on in some of my posts but I soon found that what I posted was immediately parroted by other candidate's supporters on the boards. I found I was doing opposition research for them. I'd prefer him or Obama but am leaning more toward Richardson.

[skipos]

10. Ya know

I doubt it would happen, but I think a Richardson and Obama ticket would compliment each other really well. Richardson has a lot of experience and no-nonsense demeanor that would appeal to the older voters, while Obama brings the optimism and "new direction" vibe that would probably appeal to more youthful voters. The potential boost from the hispanic population in states like NM, CO, NV and FL, with the potential boost from the blacks population in states like Arkansas and Virginia is pretty interesting too.

I don't know if America is ready for a ticket without a white male on it, but I am.

Edit: if Obama gets the nomination, I feel like there will be pressure for him to have a VP with more experience. That is one of the reasons that I think Obama and Edwards will not be on the same ticket. Personally, I think experience is overrated, but I think a ticket with a 2/3rd term senator and a single term senator will get hammered on the "lack of experience" thing.

[Telly Savalas]

9. I lean towards Obama, but this plan makes we wanna take a second look at the guy.

What would be really cool is if the folks that we've already elected to Congress would propose plans like this and try to pass bills. Bush would probably veto them, but it would put the issue on the six o'clock news.

[skipos]

11. See my post above. nt

[calteacherguy]

5. Richarson also understands nuclear power has to be on the table

if we are serious about addressing global warming. I'm liking him more and more everyday.

Q. What is the future for nuclear power? (Florida Sun-Sentinel.com)

Richardson: The future in nuclear power is one that has to be on the table. The nuclear option has to be on the table -- not, however, at the expense of investments in renewable energy and technologies, which I believe hold more promise. But because nuclear power emits hardly any greenhouse emissions, and because its technology is improved, you have to look at it as an option. My worry is that there will be such a rebound in nuclear energy that we will not do the necessary investments in renewable technology and distributed generation and fuel cells.

And nuclear power still has to resolve problems in waste, cost, safety, although its safety is improved. And nuclear power still has a lot of problems with the public, which the needs to explain, which it has not done so adequately. Politically they've sheltered themselves with one party. So they need to build alliances with environmental leaders, with local officials; they sort of sit in a bunker. But it should be on the table.

http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/01/bill-richardson-global-warming-nuclear.html

[Hart2008]

7. 20 years ago Gary Hart proposed a tariff of $.50/barrel on imported oil to reduce oil dependency.

As always, Gary Hart was ahead of his time, and it was not popular.

Unfortunately, the Bush proposal was to do nothing. (Except of course to advise Saddam through U.S. ambassador April Gilaspie that we would take no part in the Kuwait border dispute.) Two wars later, the rest is history.

It is nice to see this return to public discussion.

[Rydz777]

8. My dream ticket is

Gore for President; Richardson for Vice President. That ticket would sweep the country, and once in office would hit the ground running. Bush is going to leave behind a mountain of problems, and we need two solid leaders who have a vision for the future.

[Adelante]

12. Thank you, seasat

This is very helpful for DUers making up their minds.

[seasat]

13. You're Welcome.

It'll be interesting to compare all candidate's plans side by side once everyone releases details.