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John Edwards on Environment and Energy
"Q: What kinds of sacrifices will Americans have to make us energy independent and combat global warming? EDWARDS: They are going to have to be willing to give up some of the vehicles that they drive, and I myself have driven. They are going to have to be willing to conserve the use of energy in their homes."
"We have a global crisis, not just in America, but in the world. We are 4% of the world's population and we emit 25% of the world's greenhouse gases. We're not an example for good, we're an example for bad."
"We made a mistake by disengaging in Kyoto because there is no way to fix it when America is not involved. In order for us to have a global solution, Kyoto, any international treaty on climate change has to include the developing world."
"The right to emit carbon dioxide under this cap will be auctioned off. That auction will generate billions of dollars. Ten billion of those dollars will go into a fund to allow us to transform the way we use energy. That ten billion will be added with another three billion generated by eliminating subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies"
Q: What about nuclear power as an alternative energy source? EDWARDS: Wind, solar, cellulose-based biofuels are the way we need to go.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy
Motion to table the recommital; Bill S. 1186 ; vote number 1999-171 on Jun 16, 1999
"...to invest in wind, solar, cellulose based biofuels, for America to develop carbon capture..."
[Edwards] supported a standard that would require 10 percent of America's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill
Bill SConRes 23 ; vote number 2003-59 on Mar 19, 2003
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds
Bill S.517 ; vote number 2002-71 on Apr 18, 2002
I think we ought to cap greenhouse emissions in the US. We ought to ratchet that cap down every single year. We ought to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 80% by the year 2050.
Take Back America 2007 Conference Jun 19, 2007
There are intermediate steps that can be taken. Cap and trade, there are a number of things that can be done.
I think we ought to cap carbon emissions in America, and below the cap, we ought to auction off the right to emit any carbon dioxide and that will generate anywhere for $30-40 billion. And that money should be used to transform the way we use energy and create jobs.
He supports the McCain-Lieberman bill that would establish a cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Q: There is a scientific consensus for man-caused climate change, and I have heard each of you talk in previous debates about alternative energy sources like solar or wind, but I have not heard any of you speak your opinion on nuclear power...I'm curious what each of you believe. EDWARDS: Wind, solar, cellulose-based biofuels are the way we need to go. I do not favor nuclear power. We haven't built a nuclear power plant in decades in this country and there is a reason for that. The reason is its extremely costly, takes an enormous amount of time to get one planned, developed and built, and we still don't have a safe way to dispose of the nuclear waste.
Q: What about nuclear power as an alternative energy source? A: Wind, solar, cellulose-based biofuels are the way we need to go. I do not favor nuclear power. We haven't built a nuclear power plant in decades in this country. There is a reason for that. The reason is it is extremely costly. It takes an enormous amount of time to get one planned, developed and built. And we still don't have a safe way to dispose of the nuclear waste. It is a huge problem for America over the long term.
2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC Jul 23, 2007
Q: But now you're saying that maybe the nuclear waste should be stored locally where the waste was produced. Is that your position? EDWARDS: With Yucca Mountain there've been serious questions, including the possibility of lying and fraud in the scientific evidence that Yucca Mountain would work. I was always concerned, still am, about this nuclear waste being transported around the country. I think, at this point in time, it does not make sense to do Yucca Mountain. So the answer is we have nuclear plants, the waste has to be stored somewhere, so it has to be stored where the plants are.
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates 2008 series Feb 4, 2007
Q: Are you in favor of nuclear energy as clean energy? EDWARDS: I am not.
Q: Would you increase the required automobile fleet average of 27.5 mpg; and SUVs and pickups averaging 20.7 mpg? EDWARDS: A: I support real increases in CAFE standards. As we implement those increases, we must also invest far more in fuel-efficiency technology
Associated Press policy Q&A, "Fuel Efficiency" Jan 25, 2004
Voted NO on terminating corporate average fuel economy standards within 15 months
Bill S.517 ; vote number 2002-47 on Mar 13, 2002
Voted YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards
Gorton Amdt # 1677; Bill H.R. 2084 ; vote number 1999-275 on Sep 15, 1999
Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat
Motion to table Bryan Amdt. #1588; Bill H.R. 2466 ; vote number 1999-272 on Sep 14, 1999
On energy matters, he has voted against drilling in the Arctic five times
He also supported the "roadless rule," and he opposed Bush's Healthy Forests plan, cuts to the Superfund program, and efforts to weaken the Clean Water Act and arsenic standards for drinking water
During his first year in office, 1999, he voted in favor of an amendment to allow mountaintop-removal mining practices.
Science: Does the Endangered Species Act need to be reworked? If so, how should it be improved? KERRY: John Edwards and I support protecting wildlife and the important goals of the Endangered Species Act. We will implement the act in a cooperative manner that extends the benefits of wildlife and habitat protection to public and private lands. With adequate funding and a cooperative approach that works for both wildlife and property owners, John Edwards and I will continue America's strong legacy of protecting wildlife.
In 2001, Edwards voted to prevent the weakening of Endangered Species Act protections for salmon and other threatened fish species in California's Klamath Basin and voted in 1999 to increase funding for Forest Service fish and wildlife programs
The New York City-based Transport Workers Union of America endorsed John Edwards on Thursday, saying the former North Carolina senator was the most electable of the Democratic presidential candidates.
Particularly in small towns, many seniors lose their independence because they are isolated from supportive services or reliable transportation. Edwards will call on American automakers to make affordable, wheelchair-accessible vehicles. He will also protect funding support public transportation for rural areas, seniors and people with disabilities.