Democrats unveil Energy Independence 2020

[ProSense]

Democrats seek energy independence by 2020 By Timothy Gardner
Mon Dec 12, 6:09 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrats launched a plan on Monday for energy independence by 2020 that seeks to relieve historically high oil and gas prices by cutting reliance on foreign sources of energy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051212/pl_nm/energy_democrats_dc_2


ENERGY INDEPENDENCE 2020
CREATING A CLEANER, GREENER AND MORE SECURE AMERICA


Democrats believe the Federal government must do a better job of protecting consumers, businesses, and farmers burdened by today's skyrocketing energy prices. We must also break our country's dangerous reliance on foreign energy. With leadership and vision, we can help ensure low cost supplies of sustainable energy that will improve America's security, reduce the burden on middle class families, and help clean our environment. That's why Democrats have a strategy to make America energy independent by the year 2020. We plan to:

more...

http://democrats.senate.gov/energy/about.html

http://democrats.senate.gov/energy/

[MrTriumph]

1. Here's a position guaranteed to put everyone to sleep

Let's see. America is ready for Democratic Senators to make a strong, united statement on how to expeditiously get U.S. troops out of Bush's mess and what do is offered? An energy program. Hey, it's nice, but NOT exactly the topic everyone is talking about at the water cooler.

Thank goodness for Howard Dean, John Murtha, Nancy Pelosi and all the others that have taken a stand.

[Telly Savalas]

3. It's a topic people need to start talking about at the water cooler.

[Guaranteed]

4. ..............

:dunce:

[ProSense]

6. I wonder if there is a link between between Iraq and oil? n/t

[SpiralHawk]

19. Gee, you know, I was kinda wondering the same thing

But I'm waiting for Fox News to tell me if its OK to think like that.

[trogdor]

18. Oil is a foreign policy issue.

Overdependence on foreign supplies of it is seriously detrimental to our national security. Alternative energy and conservation are, therefore, a key national interest that the Bush admin. has chosen to ignore, with predictably bad results, including our involvement in Iraq.

Oh yeah, and people do indeed talk about the high price of gasoline, heating oil, and natual gas over the water cooler. It's something people take keen notice of.

[Telly Savalas]

2. From the yahoo article, it sounds like a good plan.

While we may quibble on the details, this is the sort of thing most Democrats could get behind.

[Guaranteed]

5. Bout goddamned time.

This should be the centerpiece of the Democratic platform.

[NanceGreggs]

7. The FIRST Democractic 'Energy Plan' ...

... has got to be pulling the plug on every Diebold machine in the country. Until that is accomplished, all the 'plans' in the world don't matter.

[ProSense]

8. More details here

http://democrats.senate.gov/~dpc/press/2005C13505.html

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. They'd better not release this for public consumption

It's too wordy.

For public consumption it needs to be bullet points and simpler language:
------------

> Develop alternatives to oil and petroleum-based products

> Provide tax incentives and subsidies for transitioning to alternative fuels

> Require companies to manufacture more fuel-efficient cars, trucks, and buses

> Encourage mass transit, high-speed rail, cycling, and other alternatives to the automobile

> Require new buildings to energy efficient to keep heating and cooling costs down

Other countries are doing these things. Why should we let them get ahead of us? <---Little appeal to patriotism here. :-)

With energy independence, we won't need to fight wars in the Middle East!

[ProSense]

10. Bullet points here.

Link for OP:

http://democrats.senate.gov/energy/about.html

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Too many bullet points in that version

You need something that a candidate could rattle off with a bit of explanation during a stump speech.

[ProSense]

12. They have them---seven

The seven main items bulleted (bold in the document):

Reduce Burdens on Consumers and the Environment
Apollo Project: Free the US from foreign oil by 2020 by supporting research, development, and production of alternative energy sources..
Diversify and Expand Our Energy Supplies
Improve Energy Security and Reduce Price Volatility
Reduce Demand for Oil and Natural Gas
Invest in Energy Efficiency and American Jobs
Update efficiency standards for appliances and small engines


The other bullet provide more detail, but not too much.

Then they also have a longer more detailed version.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. "Reduce demand for oil and natural gas" is a broad principle

The main bullet points are too bureaucratic sounding and don't create a mental image in the listener's mind.

In order to promote this to the public, politicians will have to decide which of the specific subpoints are the most memorable. For example, "Require auto companies to raise fuel efficiency to 50 mpg in x number of years" or "Reduce demand for oil by funding mass transit, intercity rail, and other alternatives to driving." (These are just examples. Anything that creates a specific picture in the listener's mind is good. Anything that sounds like something someone would drone on about at a business meeting is bad.)

This doesn't mean that these are your only points. It means only that these are your main talking points. And you have to frame it in a simple explanation of WHY saving energy is a good idea.

[ProSense]

14. Yes. Sound bites are not policy. Enough to work with. Save energy. n/t

[ProSense]

15. Read all about it! n/t

[MrBenchley]

16. Good plan. It should be promoted....

I especially like the "Apollo Project"....

Hope everyone signs up for the updates.

[freestyle]

17. A decent start. The demand reduction section is very weak.

This needs to be the foundation of the policy, and instead there are some weak recommendations, and nothing about mandatory efficiency standards for vehicles, appliances, HVAC systems, lights, power generation, motors of all types, windows, doors, wall and roof systems, etc. Vehicles and buildings are the major energy users, yet there are no concrete recommendations. Coupled with the standards should be assistance in meeting them and incentives for consumers to upgrade. There also needs to be some mention of patterns of living and suburban sprawl. Demand reductions can yield results much sooner than the products of research. This also buys us time while alternative sources are developed and distribution networks are created. The "hydrogen economy" is no small proposition, and it will take more than 15 years.