It’s Round 3, with Barack’s web site going first.

Energy and the Environment

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Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

80% by 2050. Got it.

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Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid.

This doesn’t seem ideal to me. Biofuels hold little promise; I can’t justify huge investments in biofuels, which use more energy than they provide, when wind, solar, and tidal power technology is already viable. Plug-in hybrids won’t help when we get our electricity from burning coal. Low-emission coal plants? There is no such thing. It’s chemically impossible. The best they can do is to pump the carbon dioxide underground at high pressure, which I find revolting in its stupidity. New electricity grid, OK.

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Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2025.

Bravo. Thanks for not including biofuels.

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Obama will significantly increase the resources devoted to the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon coal technologies. Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.

Say it ain’t so! Don’t sell us snake oil, even if you buy it yourself. Coal is the problem and can never be part of the solution.

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Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.

You can replace the word “invest” with “waste.”

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Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.

I’m starting to worry about his obsession with biofuels. They just won’t work.

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Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies.

Eighteen years?? Are you kidding me? We need a President who will kick Detroit automakers in the pants, not someone who will simperingly give them money if they will just please do what other automakers have already been doing for the last ten years.

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Barack Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce zero emissions, by 2030. He’ll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2030 goal.

Goals? What’s a goal? We need laws.

And now we hear from Hillary:

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Recognizing that transportation accounts for 70 percent of U.S. oil consumption, Hillary would increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030, but would help automakers retool their production facilities through $20 billion in “Green Vehicle Bonds.”

Et tu, Brute?

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the plan would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050

OK, same as Barack.

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Hillary would transform our economy from carbon-based to clean and energy efficient, jumpstarting research and development through a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund and doubling investment in basic energy research. She would also spur the green building industry by funding the retrofitting and modernization of 20 million low-income homes and take concrete steps to reduce electricity consumption, including enacting strict appliance efficiency standards and phasing out incandescent light bulbs.

Pretty good summary of what’s needed, but why focus on low-income homes? The place to start is with commercial property, where a landlord installs cheap, inefficient systems and leaves the tenant to pay the energy costs. Homeowners pay their own energy bills and have an incentive to conserve; landlords don’t.

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Aggressive action to transition our economy toward renewable energy sources, with renewables generating 25 percent of electricity by 2025 and with 60 billion gallons of home-grown biofuels available for cars and trucks by 2030.

Don’t talk to me about biofuels.

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A requirement that all publicly traded companies report financial risks due to climate change in annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

What, so they will be embarassed? How about putting them in prison if they screw up the environment?

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Automakers will be asked to make more efficient vehicles; oil and energy companies to invest in cleaner, renewable technologies; utilities to ramp up use of renewables and modernize the grid; coal companies to implement clean coal technology; government to establish a cap and trade carbon emissions system and renew its leadership in energy efficient buildings and services; individuals to conserve energy and utilize efficient light bulbs and appliances in their homes; and industry to build energy efficient homes and buildings.

OK, let’s take these one by one. “Ask” automakers? I prefer, “Hold a gun to their head.” Ask oil and energy companies to ramp up renewables? That’s like asking a wolf to please eat more fiber. Clean coal technology? I really wish she hadn’t said that; she might as well add, “And I’m sure the clean coal fairy will do her very best to help!” Cap and trade? Absolutely. Energy conservation? Well, duh, yeah.

The Result

Message to both candidates: shame on you for failing to mention that we have no choice but to build nuclear power plants, a lot of them, starting right now. Shame on you for wimping out against the energy and automaking industries. Shame on you for proposing minimalist solutions to the gravest crisis in human history. Shame on you for not proposing to end the oil depletion allowance. Shame on you for not addressing the windfall profits of oil companies. Shame on you for failing to propose strict measures to prevent the gouging of consumers on energy prices. Shame on you for proposing to place responsibility for ending the crisis in the hands of the very businesses that created it. Shame on you for perpetuating the fantasies of clean coal and biofuels. The only good thing I can say is thank you for not mentioning the fantasy to end all fantasies, hydrogen.

I’m ashamed of them both.