Earth Equity News

Palin's Call for Break with Bush Energy Policy Falls Flat. By Beth Fouhy, AP, October 30, 2008."Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin called on Wednesday for a 'clean break' from the Bush administration's energy policies, which she says rely too much on importing foreign oil. In her second policy speech in a week, the Alaska governor said the recent drop in gas and oil prices shouldn't deter consumers and lawmakers from seeking alternative energy sources. She cast energy independence as a national security issue and said dependence on Middle East oil leaves the U.S. more vulnerable to terrorists... Despite Palin's attempt to distance McCain's energy policies from those of the Bush administration, McCain's energy plan largely mirrors the priorities President Bush has pushed for eight years, especially more domestic production. Bush called for expanded offshore oil and gas drilling long before McCain reversed course to endorse added offshore drilling this summer. Bush has gone farther than McCain by supporting drilling in Alaska's off-limits Arctic National Wildlife Refuge... McCain says nuclear power is key to meet future energy demand. Bush too has argued repeatedly for expansion of nuclear energy and -- like McCain -- supports federal loan guarantees for new reactors, construction of a nuclear waste dump in Nevada and resumption of reactor fuel reprocessing. Bush and McCain also have been in lock step on oil industry taxes: Both oppose Democratic efforts to impose a windfall profits tax on the largest U.S. oil companies. Palin spoke after touring Xunlight Corp., one of a handful of solar technology startup companies in Toledo, a struggling industrial city in this swing state. The city's leaders are hoping that the solar companies will create jobs to replace some of those lost by downsizing in the auto industry. But Palin made only a passing reference to solar power in her speech and instead renewed her call for more drilling in U.S. coastal waters. She repeated her signature anthem, 'drill, baby, drill,' which seemed to fall a bit flat on the audience at the plant even as it's become a popular chant at her rallies."