read the newspaper?

Hey it's Michael D here to share some thoughts with you. Ok so i picked up the paper today and shuffled through the pages to see what the weather is doing, how the economy is faring and most importantly rite now, what the news had to say about the election. Lucky for me there was an article that fit perfectly into the theme of our project here. The article entitled "Shedding Light on Energy Issues" brings up several differences in the presidential candidates' views on the energy crisis. Each of their respective policies on how the U.S. should move forward energy wise differs. Where Obama pushes for alternative energy and renewable souces, McCain still relies on fossil fuels and nuclear power.
I find it appaling that McCain intends to create 45 new nuclear plants. While it would solve the energy crisis for the time being it would only add to the environmental crisis that is already upon us. The new plants would be around a 40% increase in U.S. nuclear power. But what will we do with all of the nuclear waste? Lets just keep buring it and pretend that it doesn't exist. Furthermore McCain wants to instate offshore oil drilling and opposes ethanol and biodiesel subsidies. I do realize that corn based fuel is not a good idea (more energy from oil to create it than clean energy that you get out of it...land tied up in corn production...increased pesticides...increas in food price...etc...), but bio fuels could totally work. Many intercity busses and some personal vehicles already run on biodiesel. And with homemade production of biofuel some people are getting a free ride from used fastfood vegetable oil. And why do we need to invest money in offshore drilling, and promoting our oil driven culture, when we could invest that same money into technology for cleaner cars and cars that don't depend on oil based fuel and other renewable energy sources? I'm really not thrilled with the policies from McCain and what its implications are for the environment.
On the other hand i do like most of what im seeing from the Obama campaign. I am impressed with the push for alternative energy sources. His call for a boost in clean coal technology and research in auto production along with renewable energy are a step (if only that) in the rite direction. With a 150 billion dollar plan to activate research, i think that many new ideas will come about and also this money will show the importance of sustainable energy. Small businesses may be invested in more as well including independant power plants (ie wind/solar/hydro...). Obama also wants power companies to have a certain percentage of their energy coming from renewable sources. I feel like this is good because once the larger utilities start using renewable resources then that will have a larger demand on renewables and hopefully increase use of renewables and reduce our use of conventional sources. Coal power is still damaging to the environment because we have to mine it and it is still burned releasing CO2 but with cleaner plants we can reduce our green house gasses substantially. Compared to the McCain campaign I feel like Obama has better policies in the works that will help the U.S. move to a cleaner brighter future. Just some initial thoughts on environmental policy and justice!

Inspiratin came from an article in the Seattle Times on Tuesday October 21, 2008