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The US election campaign has seen both candidates, McCain and Obama, promising to accelerate America’s move towards new and cleaner energy sources. Both propose policies that are radically different from those of the Bush administration.

Under Bush the US Bureau of Land Management granted permission for oil companies to carry out prospecting operations on 30 million hectares of federal land. Contrastingly, they have refused permission for the installation of solar panels and reflectors covering 400,000 hectares of western states which would be capable of generating around 40,000 megawatts. The Bush government, until recently, have also been reluctant to agree tax credits that would facilitate renewable energy investments.

The presidential campaign has seen both key candidates proposing policies that are vastly different from those of president Bush and, in some ways, very similar to one another. Both have talked about changing the way in which America is so reliant upon petroleum. However they have differed in their proposed approaches to encouraging the development of new sources of renewable energy. Obama is inclined towards heavily subsidising certain clean energy sources whereas McCain’s approach is to let market forces decide what sources of alternative energy will succeed.

McCain has had to distance himself from the decisions and poor environmental record of George W.Bush but his public perception is likely to have been adversely affected by his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. She has advocated oil exploration within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

McCain’s solution to the energy crisis has three key elements: Nuclear, clean-coal and battery powered cars. He controversially proposes the development of no less than 45 new nuclear power stations by 2030. His clean-coal solution involves capturing the CO2 emissions from coal fired power stations although research funding into this investigative project was recently stopped due to soaring costs. His battery-powered car idea is to be incentivised with a $300 million prize for the development of an improved battery for electricity powered vehicles.

McCain’s simplistic approach contrasts sharply with Obama’s more detailed and wide-ranging proposals. These include embracing targets for low carbon fuels, more fuel-efficient vehicles and tax incentives for the development of renewable energy sources.

Obama’s detailed plans include funding for a massive expansion of solar, wind and geothermal energy. Funding will also be made available for the development of biofuels, electric cars and other alternatives to oil. He talks of establishing a new power distribution grid that will make effective use of renewable energy.

Whoever makes it to the White House hot seat will need to be strong enough to lead America away from total dependence upon fossil fuels and set the stage for a bright future powered by alternative sources of energy.

By Tony Gee
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