Sunday, February 18, 2007

It Takes a Vilsack to Raise Our Hopes


Presidential candidate Tom Vilsack outlines bold energy and climate plan

If Democratic presidential long-shot Tom Vilsack had his way, the U.S. would embrace a mandatory cap-and-trade system to slash greenhouse-gas emissions 75 percent by 2050, break its oil addiction, and create hundreds of thousands of clean-energy jobs. This week, the former Iowa governor became the first presidential hopeful to outline a detailed energy policy. Just picture it: new power plants carbon-free by 2020; fuel providers reducing carbon emissions 1 percent a year for a decade; a 25-cent-per-gallon federal tax credit for cellulosic ethanol production; a nigh-unto-petroleum-free transportation system by 2040; and the Energy Department -- now "an advocate for fossil-based fuel providers" -- renamed the Department of Energy Security. Ballsy! Vilsack even pledged to green his stumping by offsetting his travel and office electricity use. "[O]ur nation's destiny truly hangs in the balance," he said. While he checks "become proficient in hyperbole" off his to-do list, feel free to salivate.

straight to the source: San Francisco Chronicle, Carla Marinucci, 14 Feb 2007

straight to the source: Contra Costa Times, Associated Press, Scott Lindlaw, 14 Feb 2007

straight to the source: Des Moines Register, Thomas Beaumont, 14 Feb 2007

straight to the source: The Oakland Tribune, Josh Richman, 14 Feb 2007

straight to the plan: Vilsack Energy Security Agenda [PDF]

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