The lead article in the September 10th Money Section of USA Today was a brief synopsis of the candidates policy positions on energy related issues entitled: To win the presidential race, it takes energy: What the candidates think about the top 6 energy issues. I am going to assume that the paper has its data correct and provide a scorecard for both candidates on the issues.  Only one candidate can win each section, although notable policies of either candidate will be mentioned in the conclusions.

——————————————

This is a continuation on my series of posts examining the candidates Energy Policy.  Part 1 examined the candidates on Drilling.  Next up is an examination of the candidates on Electricity.

Electricity

McCain

  • Wants to build 45 more nuclear power plants.
  • Wants to subsidize the industry to reach that goal.
  • Favors storing of nuclear waste at Yucca mountain.
  • Wants to build more coal-powered electrical generation plants.

Obama

  • Takes a “let’s study the issue” stance when it comes to nuclear power.
  • Is opposed to the storage of nuclear waste at Yucca mountain.
  • Is opposed to the construction of more coal-powered electrical generation plants.

Conclusion:  McCain is the winner.  Nuclear power is an incredibly safe and clean method of power generation.  And we have a solution for the waste storage issue at Yucca mountain.  Obama adds so many caveats, whatsoevers and wherefore’s to his stance on nuclear, that it is reasonable to assume, as one person quoted in the article does, that he effectively would “do nothing”.  Isn’t “studying an issue” just a euphemism for saying “No” without having to take the political heat of opposition.  And his opposition to storage of waste at Yucca mountain seems politically calculated.  Maybe its the fault of the article but there is no mention in this section of alternatives that Obama would propose.  I assume that he would favor alternative “green” sources of power such as wind, solar, etc.  Yeah, and I have a truckload of fairy dust that we could use as an alternative too.  McCain is mistaken to want to subsidize the nuclear industry.  As quoted in the article, he is “picking favorites”.  The government record of picking and then subsidizing solutions to problems is notoriously bad (e.g).    On the whole, however, McCain seems to recognize the need to increase our power generation capabilities and offers reasonable solutions to the problem.

Point:  McCain