Posted on 08/06/2004 10:12:10 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) wants to increase American energy production and reduce American reliance on foreign oil with a $20 billion fund to finance research and development of alternative and renewable fuels.
"That's what I want to talk about today — how to make our country stronger and safer by working together to build an energy-independent America," Kerry said in remarks prepared for delivery Friday.
The fund would promote energy sources like natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewable energy generated from corn, soybeans and other crops, the campaign said.
"America will be safer and freer when the resources that fuel our economy are in our hands and when we develop new energy sources in our country," he said.
Kerry says one-fifth of the fuels powering U.S. cars and trucks should come from energy sources such as corn and soybeans by 2020.
Kerry was discussing his plan during a visit to a Missouri family farm near a new Ford Motor Co. plant that will make the first hybrid sport utility vehicle, which runs on a combination of gasoline and electricity.
On Thursday, stocks tumbled after a surge in oil prices rattled Wall Street. Light crude closed at a record $44.41 a barrel, up $1.58.
For consumers, Kerry's plan to spend $20 billion over a decade to develop more clean-burning fuels and environmental technology would mean incentives, like tax breaks, worth up to $5,000 for the purchase of clean and efficient vehicles. Kerry wants those vehicles to be made in the United States, and he would put half of the $20 billion toward helping American manufacturers rebuild their plants to make more efficient vehicles.
Kerry's rolling campaign charged through this bellwether state, which has voted for the eventual winner in every presidential race but one during the last 100 years, on the first day of its journey by train.
His final stop Thursday was in Sedalia, Mo., where a large, late-night crowd gathered around the train that bore Kerry, vice presidential running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) and their wives westward. A contingent of Bush supporters was also there, shouting loudly enough at times to drown out the Democratic ticket mates.
"If Laura Bush was here I'd say hello politely to her, and I'd expect you to do it too," Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, told the crowd in a rebuke of the hecklers.
At repeated stops along the way of this coast-to-coast campaign trip, Kerry drew a connection between the development of domestic energy sources and greater national security.
"We're going to make sure we provide real security for our nation because as long as we are a country which God gave only 3 percent of the world's oil reserves to, as long as we have to import 53 percent of our oil from other nations, as long as the Saudis and the Middle Eastern countries have 65 percent of the world's oil reserves, we are always dependent on someone else," he said to a cheering crowd in St. Louis.
Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) has blamed rising oil prices on Democratic opposition to Republican energy plans.
If Kerry really wants alternative fuels to succeed, he should help pass an energy bill that's stalled in Congress, Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said.
"He is blocking passage of the energy bill in the U.S. Senate that would decrease America's dependence on foreign oil by allowing for drilling in Alaska and incentivize the production of alternative fuels like hydrogen, solar and wind," Schmidt said.
Kerry opposes the bill because it permits drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Another portion of his energy plan would put $10 billion into clean coal technologies.
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On the Net:
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com
Bush campaign: http://www.georgewbush.com
Democratic Presidential nominee Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) stands in front of an American flag before being introduced at a Main Street campaign rally in Hannibal, Missouri, August 4, 2004. With crude oil prices at a record high, Kerry on August 6 offered a 10-year, $30 billion proposal to move the nation toward energy independence. Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters
Democratic Presidential nominee Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (L) plays a guitar with a band after a campaign event in Jefferson City, Missouri, August 5, 2004. Kerry and his running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) were on the first day of a campaign train trip taking them to several key Midwestern and western states with less than 100 days until the presidential election. REUTERS/Mike Segar US ELECTION
A while back he was advocating a $0.50 a gallon tax. This measure may have a similar effect.
He wants US to be more indepentent, but the dems don't want drilling in ANWR. I think it would be great to be less dependent on foreign oil, but we have to open up the good drilling sites.
Does this guy make sense to anybody?
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., along with his running mate, Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites), D-N.C., stop for a late night rally in Sedalia, Mo. during their Believe in America tour on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)
Reminds me of a cartoon I saw - A guy and his lady are stranded on the highway. The guy responds to her sarcastically: "Well, I guess we'll CONSERVE out way out of here."
Oh, Kerry is going to re-open that coal mine area with the world's largest supply of cleaning burning coal? ...the one that Clinton declared a national monument???
That didn't work for Carter. Won't work now.
The energy companies have plenty of investment capital of their own, they don't need more. Obviously if they don't think they can make money on an investment, then it won't help if the FedGov ponies up our tax dollars instead of energy company dollars.
Dang that picture looks like some kind of Nazi mind control thing is going on. Scary.
Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid and Gene Autrey must be rolling over in their graves...not to mention that Trigger just p***** on the Museum Floor!!
Pie in the sky nonsense which will result in huge tax increase and hemoraging of jobs.
These alternative engery sources have been talked about since the 70s, but have not come into fruition.
Sure, fund some research, but develop the KNOWN energy reswerves we have like alaska, off shore and the canada sands....
Natural Gas? Fine -- but how ground-breaking is that? It needs funding?
Coal? Okay -- but what will the environmentalists say? Are the Dems serious about Coal?
Nuclear? NUCLEAR?? Are the Dems saying they will promote that? They lie.
Energy from soy beans? I think this is the entire plan right there -- and I am under-whelmed.
i think that would be great if America didnt depend on the Middle East any longer. solar power is getting more and more efficient and affordable every year. theyre even making panels less unattractive, some look just like shingles on a roof. but i think kerry is going down the wrong path here.....burning crops for fuel? thats not the way to go. what's more renewable than the sun? let's harness that. he's just trying to pander to the historically-conservative voting American farmers.
I think a revamp and promotion of the Coal Industry has already been promoted by the Bush Administration. The states want the money AND THEY ARE RIGHT. Why give the money to the middle east when we have our own assets. (For Kerry, it's likely just a Union Issue).
makes as much sense as a fart powered car.we'll all eat
at taco bell and white castle and make methane a hot
industry.with all the hot air beavis and butthead are blowing, they could power a large city.
He'd probably have us all on solar powered scooters.
Energy from soy beans?
It takes more energy to GROW soybeans than to get energy out of soybeans (and corn)
don't forget all the butt-smooching of the farmers and
"E85" ethanol corn crap fuel they have us buying here in the midwest. want to ruin your lawnmower or snowmobile in a hurry? run that "non-oxygenated" crap in it.
nevermind it cost more in oil to produce the ethanol, as long as it subsidizes a farmer, it's all good.
Most likely correct. There was discussion in a related thread some time ago where someone did an energy balance. Current ethanol production either ends up a wash or slightly negative on the carbon-based fuels used to make a given amount of ethanol. Using coal for part of the process (such as in the distillation/refining steps) helps substitute a little coal use for petroleum, but not a lot.
what's more renewable than the sun?
You've got an energy transport issue. Vehicles powered directly by PV arrays aren't likely to be practical for general use by the public, although they look pretty cool in the one aircraft NASA has, and some of those student design competitions. So that means using solar to charge batteries, (which means someone better come up with batteries better than we have now for this use), or producing some transportable fuel, like hydrogen, from large-scale PV use or maybe thermal cracking of water. In either case, you're into the issues of using hydrogen either as a combustion fuel or in a fuel cell. Certainly worth a look, but a little pricey at this point.
hey, totally agree with you. im not talking about solar-powered vehicles. thats not nearly ready to be implemented. id totally be for hydrogen cars, i'd love to see that. but solar can power (or at least ease reduce need for fuel on) homes, office buildings, etc. they even have direct solar water heaters which utilizes the sun to heat pipes connected to your house. pretty cool stuff. check it out at www.bpsolar.com .
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