Edward promotes 'bold' energy policy
By Charlotte Eby Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Wednesday, March 21, 2007
NEVADA, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Tuesday rolled out what he called a bold energy policy to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses, arguing global climate change is at a crisis level.
Speaking at an Iowa bio-energy facility, Edwards also called on Americans to conserve energy in their everyday lives, saying they need something to be patriotic about besides the war in Iraq.
"I think the country is totally ready to take steps that they believe are necessary to strengthen America. And that will include being willing to be more energy efficient, to conserve in their homes, to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles," Edwards said.
He wants to see a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, capping levels in 2010 and reducing emissions 80 percent by the year 2050 in an effort to stop global climate change.
"This is not a threat about the future," Edwards said. "This is a crisis today. This is a crisis that demands action for us today."
Under the plan Edwards announced at the Biomass Energy Conversion Center in Nevada, emission permits would be auctioned off, generating roughly $30 billion. Some of that money would be used to find innovations in renewable energy sources to help reduce the country's dependence on oil. He estimates his plan would create 1 million new jobs, many in rural areas.
The plan also sets a goal of reducing electricity usage by 25 percent by 2025.
"This is a very serious and aggressive effort to deal with climate change and to transform our energy economy," Edwards said.
Edythe Glass, a retired professor and Democrat from rural Ames, was impressed with Edwards' plan and speech.
"He's telling us what we must do, and we have to do it," Glass said. She and her husband already have made their home energy efficient and are cautious about their energy use.
Glass backed Edwards in the 2004 caucuses, and said she will do so again in 2008, picking him over Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
"He is so far beyond Sen. Clinton that there's no comparison. Obama is very promising, but somehow or another I think we need somebody with more experience," Glass said.
Meeting with reporters, Edwards brushed off the idea that his spacious home used too much energy, saying it uses solar power and received a five-star rating from the federal government.
"I came from nothing. I'm proud of what I've been able to do in my life, and I certainly have been successful. And I have a nice house, but we built this house using the best energy efficient methods that are necessary," he told reporters.
Not everyone is buying into the Edwards' contention that global warming is real.
Sioux City Republican Christopher Rants, who serves as minority leader in the Iowa House, is more skeptical about the idea climate change is caused by human activity.
"It's a great sound bite that a lot of Democrats like to use, and it's become sort of part of our popular culture, whether or not the scientific data actually backs it up or not," Rants said.
Edwards also visited the State Capitol Tuesday, meeting with legislators and posing for photos with state workers.
State Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said in his second run for president, Edwards is detailing his policy proposals in more depth than he did in 2004.
"It's coming down now to how he is distinguishing himself from the other two (candidates) that are getting so much more notoriety out there," said Heddens, who is still undecided whom she will support in the caucuses.
Edwards canceled an appearance at a house party in Indianola Tuesday night to attend a medical appointment for his wife, Elizabeth, who has battled breast cancer. The campaign said the appointment was a followup to a "routine" medical test she had Monday.
"She's had similar followups in the past and they've all resulted in a clean bill of health, but Sen. Edwards has gone with her to these appointments and he wanted to be with her tomorrow too," the campaign said in a statement.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
Speaking at an Iowa bio-energy facility, Edwards also called on Americans to conserve energy in their everyday lives, saying they need something to be patriotic about besides the war in Iraq.
"I think the country is totally ready to take steps that they believe are necessary to strengthen America. And that will include being willing to be more energy efficient, to conserve in their homes, to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles," Edwards said.
He wants to see a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, capping levels in 2010 and reducing emissions 80 percent by the year 2050 in an effort to stop global climate change.
"This is not a threat about the future," Edwards said. "This is a crisis today. This is a crisis that demands action for us today."
Under the plan Edwards announced at the Biomass Energy Conversion Center in Nevada, emission permits would be auctioned off, generating roughly $30 billion. Some of that money would be used to find innovations in renewable energy sources to help reduce the country's dependence on oil. He estimates his plan would create 1 million new jobs, many in rural areas.
The plan also sets a goal of reducing electricity usage by 25 percent by 2025.
"This is a very serious and aggressive effort to deal with climate change and to transform our energy economy," Edwards said.
Edythe Glass, a retired professor and Democrat from rural Ames, was impressed with Edwards' plan and speech.
"He's telling us what we must do, and we have to do it," Glass said. She and her husband already have made their home energy efficient and are cautious about their energy use.
Glass backed Edwards in the 2004 caucuses, and said she will do so again in 2008, picking him over Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
"He is so far beyond Sen. Clinton that there's no comparison. Obama is very promising, but somehow or another I think we need somebody with more experience," Glass said.
Meeting with reporters, Edwards brushed off the idea that his spacious home used too much energy, saying it uses solar power and received a five-star rating from the federal government.
"I came from nothing. I'm proud of what I've been able to do in my life, and I certainly have been successful. And I have a nice house, but we built this house using the best energy efficient methods that are necessary," he told reporters.
Not everyone is buying into the Edwards' contention that global warming is real.
Sioux City Republican Christopher Rants, who serves as minority leader in the Iowa House, is more skeptical about the idea climate change is caused by human activity.
"It's a great sound bite that a lot of Democrats like to use, and it's become sort of part of our popular culture, whether or not the scientific data actually backs it up or not," Rants said.
Edwards also visited the State Capitol Tuesday, meeting with legislators and posing for photos with state workers.
State Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said in his second run for president, Edwards is detailing his policy proposals in more depth than he did in 2004.
"It's coming down now to how he is distinguishing himself from the other two (candidates) that are getting so much more notoriety out there," said Heddens, who is still undecided whom she will support in the caucuses.
Edwards canceled an appearance at a house party in Indianola Tuesday night to attend a medical appointment for his wife, Elizabeth, who has battled breast cancer. The campaign said the appointment was a followup to a "routine" medical test she had Monday.
"She's had similar followups in the past and they've all resulted in a clean bill of health, but Sen. Edwards has gone with her to these appointments and he wanted to be with her tomorrow too," the campaign said in a statement.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
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