U.S. & renewable energy
See also: U.S. Presidential Campaign Issues - Energy & Environment
“We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that has to change.”
Nobel laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore
Gore calls on nation to commit to renewable energy
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore called on the nation to give up fossil fuels within the next 10 years and turn instead to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power — forms of energy whose price is falling as development proceeds. Many of the U.S.’s coal plants, which supply half its electricity, are not expected to expire within a decade. At the current manufacturing rate, solar and wind equipment makers would not be able to create enough infrastructure to supply the nation with power by the target date. The Washington Post (7/18)
July 17
The Democrats’ Visionary
By E.J. Dionne
(Truthdig) On the issue of gasoline prices, Republicans think they have a winner in their call for new drilling and Democrats are playing defense. Democrats need—this is a technical term—a lot more oomph. Al Gore wants to help them.
In a speech Thursday and in an interview, Gore played his usual role as unpaid party visionary by arguing that we can ease the climate crisis, the economic crisis and the crisis of dependence on foreign energy all at once.
It sounds like a typical, idealistic Al Gore idea. But two things about this proposal merit attention. It points a country that uses too much energy down the right path. And Gore is showing that being environmentally responsible is economically sensible.
