Go Solar Power For Homes

As the U.S. election approaches, it’s pleasing to see that energy is one of the most central issues for both presidential candidates. Here’s a look at what Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are saying about solar power for homes and other energy issues.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Obama proposes a $7,000 tax credit for those buying “advanced” vehicles. He wants one million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015. Obama wants to increase the Renewable Fuel Standard to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030. He suggests we should build out ethanol distribution infrastructure, making it law that all new vehicles be running on “flexfuel” within four years. By 2013, Obama wants to see the U.S. producing 2 billion gallons of “cellulosic” ethanol from switchgrass and other non-corn sources.

McCain meanwhile opposes all ethanol incentives saying he’d take away any import tariffs on sugar cane-based ethanol. He is opposed to all kinds of tariffs and subsidies that distort the marketplace. McCain has supported moves for a $5,000 tax credit for those buying zero carbon emission cars while other cars should benefit from tax credits on a graduated scale where lower carbon emission cars receiving higher tax credits. McCain agrees with moving over to “flexfuel” vehicles.

ELECTRICITY

Obama’s plan is to have US utilities taking a quarter of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power by 2025.

McCain opposes the red tape blocking increased investment in the national grid. He sees a massive potential for the grid in charging for refilling electric cars. McCain supports SmartMeter technologies that offer customers a more accurate picture of their energy usage, thereby gaining more cost efficiency in this area.

OFFSHORE DRILLING

There is a congressional moratorium on drilling in federal lands off the U.S. coastline. Obama opposed lifting this ban but would agree to limit offshore drilling to help solve America’s energy problems short term.

McCain wants to expand offshore drilling, pointing to an estimated 18 billion barrels of oil on the US outer continental shelf.

WINDFALL PROFITS TAX

Obama supports a five-year windfall tax on large oil company profits. The proceeds from Obama‘s tax would go towards a $1,000 tax rebate for low- and middle-income families to support them as they struggle with increased energy prices.

McCain does not agree with raising taxes on oil companies.

NUCLEAR POWER

Obama supports nuclear power, but is concerned about the issue of disposing of U.S. nuclear waste. He opposes the suggestion to store nuclear fuel at the Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada desert. Obama is also urgently seeking a solution to nuclear proliferation.

McCain wants to build 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030, and ultimately wants 100 new nuclear plants built in U.S. He supports the Yucca Mountain plan.

GASOLINE TAX HOLIDAY

Obama opposes temporarily lifting the federal tax on gasoline. He believes the suspension of this tax would only amount to a saving for each American family of less than $30. It is therefore not a real solution.

McCain agrees with a gasoline tax holiday. He wants to divert funds from general government revenues to pay for transportation projects funded by the tax.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Obama makes the radical pledge to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 while reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This would mean fuels suppliers would have to cut carbon content by 10 percent by 2020.

McCain prefers a cap-and-trade CO2 approach. Last year, he sponsored a bill to cut emissions by 30 percent by 2050.

OIL USE

Both Obama and McCain advocate cutting down on U.S. dependence on foreign energy imports. Obama would reduce overall oil consumption by at least 35 per cent (10 million barrels per day) by 2030, to offset imports from OPEC nations.

McCain wants the US to be independent from foreign oil by 2025.

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Obama opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

McCain supports increased offshore oil drilling, but does not support ANWR drilling “at this time.”

ENERGY RESEARCH

Obama suggests the U.S. should invest $150 billion over 10 years on low-carbon energy sources. He wants to double research and development spending on solar and wind resources as well as biomass. Obama wants to invest in low-emissions coal plants while creating pressure to accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids.

McCain meanwhile wants to make a $300 million prize up for grabs to the auto company that develops a next-generation car battery that will move the U.S. away from their dependence from oil. He wants to put $2 billion annually into the advancement of clean-coal technology.

VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY

Obama wants to see a doubling of fuel economy standards over the next 18 years. He would give car manufacturers added tax credits to upgrade their plants with a focus on the addition of advanced lightweight materials and new more eco-efficient engines.

McCain voted against the energy amendments in 2003 that would have boosted the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) to 40 mpg by 2015. He aims to increase fines for car companies that fail to meet CAFE standards, offering tax credits relating to vehicles’ carbon emissions.

From Sam Deane,
your solar power for homes guide,
at www dot go solar power for homes dot com.

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Info via: US Chamber of Commerce, campaign websites. U.S. Election Logo via blog.nielsen.com
The Trackback, /solar-powered-celebrities/obama-or-mccain-on-solar-power-and-more
by Sam Deane, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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