Richardson sets goal of reducing oil imports by 40% and replacing liquid fuels with biofuels by 2025

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. . . and called for a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

Richardson presses oil independence plan

NEW YORK -- Democrat Bill Richardson told oil and gas investors Wednesday how he'd wean the United States off foreign sources of their product if elected president in 2008.

Calling dependence on foreign oil America's "Achilles heel," the New Mexico governor outlined a broad plan for promoting energy independence in a keynote address at an oil and gas conference in New York sponsored by investment banking giant Bear Stearns.

In prepared remarks, Richardson set a goal of reducing oil imports by 40 percent and replacing liquid fuels with biofuels by 2025, and called for a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

Richardson, who served as energy secretary under President Bill Clinton, warned that U.S. foreign policy was too dependent on maintaining access to oil resources, and said oil consumption was hastening the effects of global warming.

"Our ability to drain the swamps of terrorism depends in part on our political will to change how we produce, distribute and consume energy," Richardson said. "In the West, it's not just liberal college kids who ask what we are doing about global warming -- it's the conservative farmers and ranchers whose way of living is at risk."

Richardson, who trails front-runners Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in the presidential field, said he would promote tax breaks for the construction of energy efficient buildings, offer tax credits for hybrid cars and public transportation, and create a system of tradable energy credits to encourage private investment in alternative energy technologies.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8NS2SV00.htm


related:

Environmental Richardson

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

The campaign of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is keen to let the world know that since he does not see the federal government doing enough to stop global warming, he is taking care of business on the state side.

Richardson has just signed two bills as part of his energy agenda, designed to make New Mexico one of the top two states for renewable energy requirements. The first law requires New Mexico utilities to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or biomass, by 2015 and 20% by 2020. The second law creates a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to develop clean energy resources and market them to other states.

“In the absence of federal leadership, I feel a real sense of urgency to take action at the state level to fight global warming and strengthen our energy security,” said Richardson. “Ramping up our use of renewable energy and reducing carbon-based emissions is the first step. These strategies also help to protect the environment, create high-tech, high-wage jobs and grow our economy.”

http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=24993364

[BOSSHOG]

1. Yeah but what's his plan?

I often entertain myself by pretending to be part of the ignorant trash which supports bush.

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2. "What this country needs is a man-on-the-moon project--an Apollo project--

--that makes America energy-independent."

His policy would involve heavy investments in research and development, subsidies as well as government investments in private companies.

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3. kick

:kick:

[gravity]

4. We should invest more in research

Until we have better technology to produce ethanol first. If there are ways to make cellulose based ethanol profitable, I believe biofuels would really take off. Even then though, they aren't going to replace oil, so we need to work on using less resources.

[Robbien]

5. Bio-fuels is is exact wrong way to go. People are starving yet he wants

to put a valuable food source in his SUV gas tank. Electric is the better alternative.

But the farm lobbyists are strong lobbys with lots of money for politicians. Richardson is getting blinded by the wrong shade of green.

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6. Actually, we have the ability to feed starving people and our cars

Just because ethanol has a constituency shouldn't disqualify it from support. Richardson argues for a combination of alternatives.

[Robbien]

8. No, we don't have that ability

Right now the inventory levels of corn/sugar are decreasing at rates faster then ever before in history. That is inventory levels mind you.

Production levels have decreased due to world wide drought.

And because of these two facts, the predictions are multiplying that there is going to be huge inflation in groceries.

[bigtree]

10. like I said, Richardson favors a mix of alternatives to achieve his goal

so, focusing on his support for ethanol production as a reason to oppose his plan may be a personal thing with you, but I don't think its a fair representation of what he's done in NM or what he wants to achieve for the rest of the country.

[Karenina]

7. Hemp.

[Pangolin]

9. Peak Oil is going to take care of those nasty oil imports...

No matter what we do there will just not be enough oil to import. Virtually all of the worlds largest oil fields are in decline already. All of the oil fields in Europe and North America are in decline.

Look here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=87431&mesg_id=87431

and here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=266&topic_id=2265&mesg_id=2265

or here:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=266&topic_id=2290&mesg_id=2290

So as oil imports are declining we can turn all of that yummy food into fuel for our SUV's. I like it.

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11. Email from Stewart Udall, Former Secretary of the Interior

March 14, 2007

With a global warming crisis looming, we need a new "man-on-the-moon" effort to protect our environment. We had such an effort when I served as Secretary of the Interior under both President Kennedy and President Johnson -- working toward such ground-breaking legislation as the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Land and Water Conservation Act. We can do it again under a President Richardson.

Bill Richardson will be an outstanding president and the leader we need on global warming and other vital environmental and energy issues. He stands head and shoulders above the other candidates. It will take unprecedented global cooperation between the largest nations to deal with the complexities of global warming. Bill Richardson's experience at the United Nations gives him unique qualifications to lead this crusade.

Please take a moment to forward this email to five friends who are committed to reforming our energy policies. Tell them Governor Richardson has the record to best lead the battle against global warming.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/page/m/t7mellghjd1/Ezgifn

Lots of people talk about what we should do about our oil dependence and its impact on global warming, but Governor Bill Richardson isn't just talking -- he's making change happen. Lots of people are looking for federal action, but former Secretary of Energy Governor Richardson knows we can't wait -- he's taking action now.

Last week the Governor signed a new law that would quadruple New Mexico's use of clean energy by 2020, requiring that by then 20% of an electrical utility's power supply comes from renewable energy sources.

This is the kind of landscape-changing action we need across the nation.

A second piece of legislation signed by the Governor enacts another critical advance for the future of alternative energy by setting up a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. Right now, difficulties in getting wind, solar, and other alternative energies to market limit our capacity to use renewable energy sources. Governor Richardson's pioneering law changes that for New Mexico by setting up the mechanism to ensure that we can use or sell all the clean energy we are able to produce.

Today Governor Richardson is in New York speaking to a gas and oil conference about why our dependence on foreign oil hobbles our diplomatic options in hotspots like Iran, Russia, Nigeria and the Sudan. The Governor believes that we should not let oil dependence limit our ability to pursue good foreign policy. He also believes that we should lead the world in reducing greenhouse gases and in preparing for the post-oil economy of the future.

Voters and would-be supporters can only learn that Bill Richardson is the environmental candidate, with a proven record of success, if we tell them. We can't count on the media to share this information -- but I know we can count on you.

Take a moment to tell five friends who are committed to curbing global warming and expanding alternative energy that Governor Bill Richardson is the candidate with an outstanding record of real accomplishments.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/page/m/t7mellghjd1/Ezgifn

Thank you for your continued support of Governor Bill Richardson.

Sincerely,

Stewart Udall
Former Secretary of the Interior
Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson

[cooolandrew]

12. Has to be said Richardson looks better all the time. The least baggage excellent resume.