McCain's energy plan doesn't include biofuels

August 8, 2008

BY Kris Bevill

Web exclusive posted August 14, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. CST

When it comes to ethanol programs, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has said ethanol is fine, so long as no funding is given to the industry by the federal government. McCain has long been vocal on his anti-ethanol subsidy position and continues to defend that stance as he promotes his energy plan across America.

The core of McCain's energy plan, called the "Lexington Project," revolves around nuclear power, clean coal, domestic oil, and natural gas drilling.

According to McCain, the United States currently gets 20 percent of its energy from nuclear power, a number he said can be drastically increased with the addition of new reactors. His plan calls for the construction of 45 nuclear reactors by 2030 and the eventual addition of 100 nuclear power plants throughout the country.

McCain would also commit $2 billion annually for the research and development of clean coal technology – a technology that some experts currently predict is 15 years away. McCain's plan would invest in the scientific development of this technology so that it can be exported to other countries. With this plan, McCain said it will create new American jobs and aid the United States' contributions to an "international green economy."

As for renewable energy, McCain's plan briefly mentions wind, solar and hydropower technologies, but doesn't detail how he plans to advance those technologies other than to state that he will work to remove federal subsidies. According to his Web site, McCain "believes in an even-handed system of tax credits that will remain in place until the market transforms sufficiently to the point where renewable energy no longer merits the taxpayers' dollars."

The key to lower fuel prices, according to McCain's plan, is to increase domestic oil and natural gas drilling. McCain's Web site states: "There is no easier or more direct way to prove to the world that we will no longer be subject to the whims of others than to expand our production capabilities." McCain would expand domestic drilling to the Outer Continental Shelf, an area currently off-limits to oil and natural gas production due to a federal moratorium.

McCain addresses the issue of transportation by proposing a $300 million prize to the inventor of a battery package that will dramatically advance the commercial availability of plug-in hybrids or electric cars. His Clean Car Challenge calls for a one-time $5,000 tax credit for each consumer who purchases a zero-emission car. The challenge, according to McCain, will spur automakers to be the first to produce such a vehicle in order to capitalize on the consumer incentives.

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