Barack Obama/Energy and Environment Policy

Resources

 * The Obama campaign's page on his positions on energy and environment issues.

Energy issues
Starting in March of 2006 Sen. Obama began to enunciate his own view of U.S. energy policy. Obama started by offering the big three U.S. automakers a deal to get more fuel efficient vehicles to market. Obama's plan would call on the federal government to "pay 10 percent of the $6.7 billion in annual health costs for retirees that are weighing down General Motors, Ford and Chrysler if they'll commit to building more fuel-efficient cars."

In April 2006 Obama made a speech calling for energy independence and criticizing the Bush administration for failing to back up it's rhetoric with action. Obama stated, "Saying that America is addicted to oil without following a real plan for energy independence is like admitting alcoholism and then skipping out on the 12-step program." Obama reiterated his proposed deal with the automakers, claiming that he is sure the technology exists to create a car that gets 500 miles per gallon. He also called for increasing fuel efficiency standards by 3 percent every year for the next 15 years; reducing oil imports by 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025; and encouraging the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.

In December 2007, three anti-nuclear activists - protesting with signs what they called Obama's lack of a clear position on nuclear waste disposal - said they were forced to leave an Obama presidential campaign rally in Columbia, South Carolina.

Acceptance Speech
In his speech accepting the Democratic Party nomination as its candidate for the 2008 Presidential election, Obama stated that "As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy - wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced."

Resources

 * The Obama campaign's page on his positions on energy and environment issues.

On Obama's Environmental Policies

 * Barack Obama statements on coal
 * Barack Obama statements on a post-Kyoto global warming agreement
 * Barack Obama statements on nuclear power

On Obama's Other Policies

 * Barack Obama
 * Barack Obama/Economic Policy
 * Barack Obama/Education Policy
 * Barack Obama/Elections and Government Policy
 * Barack Obama/Energy and Environment Policy
 * Barack Obama/Food and Agriculture Policy
 * Barack Obama/Health Policy
 * Barack Obama/Infrastructure and Transportation Policy
 * Barack Obama/Labor, Immigration and Retirement Policy
 * Barack Obama/National Security and Foreign Policy
 * Barack Obama/Rights, Liberties and Courts Policy
 * Barack Obama/Communications, Science and Intellectual Property
 * Barack Obama/Social Policy
 * Barack Obama/Controversies
 * Barack Obama statements on coal


 * John McCain
 * John McCain/Economic Policy
 * John McCain/Education Policy
 * John McCain/Elections and Government Policy
 * John McCain/Energy and Environment Policy
 * John McCain/Food and Agriculture Policy
 * John McCain/Health Policy
 * John McCain/Infrastructure and Transportation Policy
 * John McCain/Labor, Immigration and Retirement Policy
 * John McCain/National Security and Foreign Policy
 * John McCain/Rights, Liberties and Courts Policy
 * John McCain/Communications, Science and Intellectual Property
 * John McCain/Social Policy
 * John McCain/Controversies

External resources

 * Project Vote Smart's database of Obama's interest group ratings, Obama's important votes, McCain's important votes and McCain's interest group ratings.