WDET News
- Presidential Candidates Consider Alternative Energies
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Jan 8, 2008State Capitol - Link to Audio
For months, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has made alternative energy production a major part of her administration’s goals. The governor is hoping green technology will be a key driver of the state’s economic turnaround. The issue is one of several that prompted state lawmakers to push Michigan’s presidential primary up, in hopes of focusing an early national spotlight on the state.
Now, as Tuesday’s primary approaches, Michigan voters are paying close attention to the narrowing field of candidates. But is the alternative energy message resonating on the campaign trail? Michigan Public Radio’s David Nicholas reports…
SOQ
Last year, Michigan leap-frogged over 22 other states holding primary elections on February 5. But that action broke political party rules. As a result, Michigan’s attempt to stand apart from the Super Tuesday crowd may end up costing it much of its voice at the national party conventions this summer.
The violation prompted all the Democratic contenders except Senator Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the Michigan ballot. At a campaign stop in Detroit, Clinton spoke to the issue of alternative energy by calling for a greater market for flex fuel vehicles…
“The oil companies don’t want to sell the ethanol because it cuts into their profits on the oil. They need to be made to sell at every gas station A…or E-85 or other ethanol mix that can go into the cars that you make in Detroit.”
Clinton also wants to create a “Green Building Fund” that would take $1 billion annually from the federal government and put it toward grants for states supporting energy efficient projects.
Illinois Senator Barak Obama is proposing to invest $150 billion over 10 years to develop alternative energies.
All of the Republicans kept their names on the Michigan ballot. But like the Democrats, they have focused their time and attention in Iowa and New Hampshire. At the GOP debate in Dearborn last October, the candidates only briefly addressed alternative energy. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said they favor energy independence, but they share the belief that the free market should determine the choices and the rate of change.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the first candidate to run statewide ads in Michigan, but his message on alternative energy has been less than specific…
“I believe that we have to be developing more energy sources ourselves which would include offshore drilling and drilling in ANWR, nuclear power, bio diesel, bio fuel, ethanol, cellulastic ethanol, probably liquefied coal…we have enormous supplies of coal.”
Environmental groups supporting alternative energy say they are pleased that the issue is part of some of the candidates’ platforms, but they agree it is not prominent enough. Doug Russell is President of the Board of Directors for Michigan Green, an organization supporting the use of renewable fuels and promoting energy conservation.
In his view, the federal energy bill passed at the end of 2007 leaves the country still invested too heavily in traditional energy sources. And he is still looking for a candidate to present a plan that will take the issue to the next level…
“I have not heard that candidate yet, speak to a level of eloquence or depth of understanding or commitment that will bring about those kinds of changes. On a national level, when you’re looking at the war and immigration, we’re still not getting the kind of coverage that will make it a top level issue.”
Governor Granholm isn’t satisfied with the level of attention, either. She wants the state legislature to establish a renewable fuels portfolio standard for companies looking to set up shop or expand in Michigan. She has formed a Climate Action Council and charged it with putting together a comprehensive climate change plan by the end of this year. But Granholm feels the federal government should be leading the way…
The fact that we have not signed on with the Kyoto Accord tells you that we are not, um, leading. We need to lead as a nation, but if the federal government’s not going to do it, you better believe the states, the laboratories, the experimenters…we will lead and we’ll show the federal government how it can be done.”
In November, Granholm signed on with several Midwest governors and the Premier of Manitoba in pledging to limit greenhouse gas emissions and expand the use of alternative energy.
Now, as the 2008 campaign season kicks into high gear, it remains to be seen whether alternative energy will capture the same commitment from the presidential candidates. Michigan voters could add more fuel to their engines when they go to the polls on Tuesday.