Hillary Clinton the second democrat to feature in our review of renewable energy policy has high plans for renewable energy and its future. She has been particularly looking across towards Germany and wants to follow that countries example.
Her cornerstone of her wider economic and energy program remains creating green collar jobs. She has put this at the center of her agenda to rid America of its dependence on foreign oil. She cities the example of Germany and the 300,000 jobs which have been created there, doings things like installing solar panels. A quotable on the matter from her; "These renewable energy jobs are high-wage jobs that cannot be outsourced," . "Other countries are ahead of us. But that doesn't mean anything because we can catch up in a hurry if we put our minds to it."
Despite the fact that Mrs Clinton has lots of big name big money oil companies donating to her campaign , she has been selling a message which has included getting rid of oil subsidies and using these to pay for renewable energy investments. She is also seeking to make a more intelligent and efficient energy infrastructure in the United States. If its one thing the democratic candidates do agree on its the fact that one of the first things they want to do is make housing and industry more energy efficient. They are all selling this idea as creating free energy power stations at little cost.
Another initiative she plans for is an energy bond program, something which she hopes would mirror the action to which Americans sprung when during wars, buying patriotic bonds. The proceeds from these would then go into the the Strategic Energy Fund and fund renewable energy projects.
Clinton would also like to start a nationwide net metering scheme, under which small businesses and residential homes can contribute power to the grid and get credits in return that they could use at a later point in time. There would also be tax incentives to invest in these small scale projects provided to residential homes and small businesses.
Senator Clinton also pledges 25 percent of renewable energy by 2025 and a further 60 billion gallons of biofuels by 2030. How exactly she plans to do this is hard to say. Another objective which weighs very heavily in her decision is the fact that she wants to get America moving away from its dependence on foreign oil. Thus far she has not highlighted exactly which technology she wants to use to get away from the dirty energy currently being used.
Her focus is more towards the conservation of energy already being spent, particularly in low income household’s and federal buildings, as well as higher fuel mileage requirements. The program of Mrs Clinton also has a common point with that of Mr Obama in that they both are willing to expand nuclear powers role under certain conditions, unlike Mr Edwards who has ruled out this possibility. Considering Mrs Clinton's record on energy legislation it remains to be seen how she approaches the issue if she is elected.
For additional information:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/poweringamericasfuture/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4088
Tomorrow: John Edwards
