Obama's Energy Plan

[SkywlkrSnd]

Here is a summary of points US President-Elect Barack Obama has outlined as part of his New Energy for America plan (as illustrated on his official website (http://www.barackobama.com)). What do you think of these? Are they too drastic, or not drastic enough? Which ones are realistically achievable vs. ones that just "sound good" on a political scorecard? Do you foresee and political implications of any of these actions?

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Obama's New Energy for America:



Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families.
Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.
Swap Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Cut Prices.


Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.

Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.


Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.

Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.


Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

[IndyRPh]

Like most things our President-elect has talked about, this plan is full of broad and inspiring generalities but unnervingly short on details. Allow me to elaborate so we all know what his plan means.

Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families.
This should be unnerving to any business owner. Exxon Mobile's profit margin in 2007 was 10%. I would think ANY business owner would hope for a 10% return. The actual dollar amount was of course large, but this should indicate just how large their expenses (including their already enormous tax bill) are. By comparison the profit margin at Berkshire Hathaway was 11+% and Google was 25%. How's that for windfall? I don't think America was founded on the principle of punishing our most successful businesses. Classifying a 10% profit margin as "windfall" should make any business owner nervous. As for the $1000 rebate, of course those of us who work for a successful business (or just work period) won't qualify anyway.
Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.
Actually can't argue with this one. These people are f-ing up our free market.
Swap Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Cut Prices.

Until we don't need oil anymore, we need to SPR. Borrow from it, sell the oil to somebody, whatever. But refill it. Again, we need it.
Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.

Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
How? If we build more hydroelectric damns, we'll cry about how the fish can't migrate. If we build wind turbines, we'll cry about the birds they hit and kill. Solar panels might be feasible, but not at this point. I'll cover my roof with them once they are indistinguishable from my shingles.
Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
Identify what this is AND deploy it all within 10 years time. Right on.
Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
Go for it. I know since I can afford to survive my home won't be weatherized. But go for it anyway.
Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

Amen.

Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.

Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
We definitely need to increase fuel economy on our cars. No doubt about it. But they will not be built here if we bail out the UAW (disguised as a corporate bail out saving the Big 3 from bankruptcy court and an inevitable court ordered renegotiation of their UAW labor contracts) as it seems Congress is now intent to do. The UAW and their workers are not capable of changing enough to embrace the technology and reorganization of the manufacturing process that is required to have this necessary goal reached.
Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
Of course the point of "Use it or Lose it" is to regulate/restrict the companies to the point they can't possibly "Use it," essentially forcing them to "Lose it," and then [of course] not allowing anyone else to "Use it" in their place.
Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

And of course "Responsible Domestic Production" is political speech for "No New Domestic Production." Enjoy the high prices.
Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

This is fine if it makes the climate change people happy. But this should not be a unilateral cap. Until China and India agree to the same caps we do, we should not be acting alone.

[SkywlkrSnd]

Solar panels might be feasible, but not at this point. I'll cover my roof with them once they are indistinguishable from my shingles.

Now THAT is a million dollar idea! :) A solar shingle!
(Edit...okay...looks like someone already tackled that one: http://www.solar-components.com/pvshingl.htm) I think solar is probably one of the best bets we have for transitioning to a completely renewable energy source...but photovoltaic technology still has a long, long way to go before it becomes viable.

The UAW and their workers are not capable of changing enough to embrace the technology and reorganization of the manufacturing process that is required to have this necessary goal reached.
Wish I had some kind of argument here to stand up for the American workforce. But...yeah...can't help but agree with you here.

This is fine if it makes the climate change people happy. But this should not be a unilateral cap. Until China and India agree to the same caps we do, we should not be acting alone.
This brings up a very interesting point. The US consumes a large percentage of the world's resources, so if we made drastic changes...logic says it should have an effect on the world. But what good is any of it if we can't get other industrious nations...especially China and India...to go along with us. If they don't do anything, will it really matter what we do?

What's the best way to get someone, whether a close friend or a distant country, to make a drastic change with you? Do you agree to the principals of what must be done first, then both do it at the same time? Step by step together. Or do you make a decision to "lead by example", and hope the other follows suit? It's definitely a complex question, but sooner or later, it WILL have to be answered.

[no_gas_just_ask]

I also think obama's plans are lofty, what I don't think he realizes is that there are a lot of very rich corps out there not interested in letting him reduce there income with his plans. The oil company's ??? exxon's 3rd qtr profits 14.8 b???? that kind of money buys a lot of influence.

solar is a great idea, when it becomes cost affective.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that any new idea is going to be met with strong opposition from the good old boys club, so if its going to work, it better be cheap, reliable and appealing to the masses. As for getting other countries on board with the new plan, I think they will realize quickly that it's either get on board fast or be left behind.....

[mtorre123]

Recently I looked at the North Pole by satellite view and it is melting fast. Al Gore is very right, and if the United States, China, the two major bullies to the earth don't change their ways, all that we work for, will be a disaster for our children to be future leaders to our earth. We know the right thing to do, but yet we do nothing! What are we waiting for. We'll have jobs alright!, jobs rebuilding. We are headed back to being slaves to our own disasters. Yeahh, what a party that will be. We need to hit the restart button. Get rid of things that a threat, and replace with safer alternatives. Again, we have the tech and the solutions. All we have to do is to demand our leaders to take action immediately, now, 911 these action before it is too late. I rather the future children be safe than rather be slaves to the industrial revolution mis-guidance.

[obtaigo09]

Some good some bad. I dont like more money going towards food stamps and unemployment. Lets focus on expanding our companies.

[ribonzz]

Wow! I never knew that Obama has this kind of plan.

[PETER.PHIL]

Obama plans to move the country to renewables like solar and wind and to raise fuel efficiency standards. McCain's plan is to drill for oil, build nuclear power plants and try renewables.