I wrote previously [3/27/08] there is a consensus among climate scientists that reductions in CO2 emissions must reach
80% of current levels by 2050 for the Earth to have an even chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change. McBush announced his carbon reduction program this week in Stump Town at a venue that was unintentionally ironic. He spoke at Vesta, a
Danish wind turbine factory. The public relations gaffe aside, the substance of McBush's plan can be summed up in one word: inadequate. His program is generally consistent with the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act which calls for reductions in carbon emissions of only 60%. And he would give away rather than auction initial pollution permits. Auction proceeds could be utilized for research and development of low carbon technologies and transportation infrastructure. Predictably the CMM hailed McBush's weak proposals as "courageous" and a "sharp break" from the Regime's case of chronic denial. But Sierra Club spokesman Carl Pope said McBush's proposals were "dramatically worse than the average Republican governor."
The United States created the wind power industry when Jimmy Carter began a program of
subsidies for alternative energy development after the first oil crisis in the '70s. But for the past 26 years McBush and other conservatives in Congress have blocked efforts to extend the wind power tax credit. As a result of this concerted opposition, the US is a small player in a $36 billion global market (
see chart). Instead, McBush has called for massive new loan guarantees for the nuclear power industry, and opposed removal of oil industry subsidies. Except for voting against opening ANWR to exploitation, his
environmental record is almost as dismal (
LCV lifetime score: 24%) as the Charlatan's.
subsidies for alternative energy development after the first oil crisis in the '70s. But for the past 26 years McBush and other conservatives in Congress have blocked efforts to extend the wind power tax credit. As a result of this concerted opposition, the US is a small player in a $36 billion global market (see chart). Instead, McBush has called for massive new loan guarantees for the nuclear power industry, and opposed removal of oil industry subsidies. Except for voting against opening ANWR to exploitation, his environmental record is almost as dismal (LCV lifetime score: 24%) as the Charlatan's.