Al Gore has a 5 point plan for President Obama regarding global warming

[lunatica]

First, the new president and the new Congress should offer large-scale investment in incentives for the construction of concentrated solar thermal plants in the Southwestern deserts, wind farms in the corridor stretching from Texas to the Dakotas and advanced plants in geothermal hot spots that could produce large amounts of electricity.

Second, we should begin the planning and construction of a unified national smart grid for the transport of renewable electricity from the rural places where it is mostly generated to the cities where it is mostly used. New high-voltage, low-loss underground lines can be designed with "smart" features that provide consumers with sophisticated information and easy-to-use tools for conserving electricity, eliminating inefficiency and reducing their energy bills. The cost of this modern grid -- $400 billion over 10 years -- pales in comparison with the annual loss to American business of $120 billion due to the cascading failures that are endemic to our current balkanized and antiquated electricity lines.

Third, we should help America's automobile industry (not only the Big Three but the innovative new startup companies as well) to convert quickly to plug-in hybrids that can run on the renewable electricity that will be available as the rest of this plan matures. In combination with the unified grid, a nationwide fleet of plug-in hybrids would also help to solve the problem of electricity storage. Think about it: with this sort of grid, cars could be charged during off-peak energy-use hours; during peak hours, when fewer cars are on the road, they could contribute their electricity back into the national grid.

Fourth, we should embark on a nationwide effort to retrofit buildings with better insulation and energy-efficient windows and lighting. Approximately 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States come from buildings -- and stopping that pollution saves money for homeowners and businesses. This initiative should be coupled with the proposal in Congress to help Americans who are burdened by mortgages that exceed the value of their homes.

Fifth, the United States should lead the way by putting a price on carbon here at home, and by leading the world's efforts to replace the Kyoto treaty next year in Copenhagen with a more effective treaty that caps global carbon dioxide emissions and encourages nations to invest together in efficient ways to reduce global warming pollution quickly, including by sharply reducing deforestation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/al-gore-the-climate-for-c_n_142645.html

[cooolandrew]

1. It's excting times to see things moving the the right direction. Many great things ahead.

[lunatica]

2. I know. It takes some getting used to

I'm so conditioned to having a knot of dread in my stomach that I still get it and have to remind myself that those days are gone forever.

[malletgirl02]

3. Gore for EPA Secretary

I think he would make a great EPA secretary

[Uncle Joe]

4. Thanks for listing the five points, lunatica.

Kicked and recommended.

[EconomicLiberal]

5. Hey Al, if you want to dictate global warming policy, join the administration.

If you don't, then shut up.

[wildflowergardener]

7. No

I think most people value Al Gore's input here - whether he's in the administration or not. I don't think telling people not in the administration who have ideas to shut up is the answer! Maybe we wouldn't have gotten where we were today if the Bush Administration had been willing to listen to other experts.

Meg

[politicasista]

9. Exactly

Anyone telling a Nobel Peace Prize winner who was just 500-400+ votes from winning the presidency to shut hasn't been paying attention.

[diane in sf]

11. Actually Al Gore won--the votes in Florida were not counted

edit for typo

[politicasista]

15. Correct n/t

[H2O Man]

8. Yikes!

Perhaps you are not familiar with the fact that Barack Obama has said that Al Gore will play a role in his administration's approach on environmental issues.

[rosesaylavee]

14. Here's a clue.

The board you have newly signed on here... was started because of Al Gore's loss in 2000. You don't have to agree with him and you are certainly welcome to your opinion. But snarky ignorant comments regarding Mr. Gore will not make you many friends.

[TheKentuckian]

6. I'd like to see a GREEN building code

so that all new construction is efficient as well, that would also encourage things like raintraps and wind, geothermal, and/or solar power on site to reduce the strain on the grid.

I believe that we can not only end the need for foreign oil but for all carbon fuels in 10-20 years and with positive steps in production and conservation be energy positive in under a generation. The next generation's biggest energy concern should be how to deliver our extra wattage to other countries.

[lutefisk]

10. There is a perfect opportrunity to accomplish point three, and much more

Make one or more of the US automakers an offer they can't refuse. With the right incentives, they could accomplish quite a lot. With the right kind of tough intervention, so much is possible.

That whole truck and suv thing didn't work out so well, so if they want to survive, it's time to listen to reason and do what they're told. Transforming the US auto industry would be huge...

[Arkana]

12. I do hope Al put it in a lockbox.

I kid, I kid...

[AtomicKitten]

13. I would love for Gore to step into a cabinet position to implement his 5-pt plan.

[cornelio]

16. Obama is the perfect leader to tackle this plague

He understand the need of a long-term plan to prevent us from destroying ourselves.