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Ralph Nader on Energy & Oil
2004 Reform nominee; 2000 Green Candidate for President
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US lags behind Europe & Japan in renewable energy
Minimizing carbon emissions can produce healthy ripple effects throughout the economy. Thus, arguments for fundamental changes in the way we derive and use energy should be made on all fronts to build the support needed to confront human-caused global
warming. Achieving a 20% reliance on renewable energy sources by 2020 would save a total of 20.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In 24% of locations where wind was measured, wind speed in the US is fast enough to provide power at [competitive]
costs. [But compared to Europe], the US lags far behind. Though the US Department of Energy's renewable energy program cites "real potential of cutting solar prices by half," the US continues to progress very slowly on solar development compared to
Europe and Japan.
What we've known about the potentials of wind, solar efficiency, and other non-fossil fuel energy for thirty years is being applied on a schedule far too slow, given the urgency of global warming and the danger of resource wars.
Source: In the Public Interest, Ralph Nader's weekly column
Oct 15, 2004
Kyoto treaty is so watered down there’s nothing to fight for
Nader insists that there is no real difference between the two major-party candidates. But in what sense is opposing drilling in ANWR no different from supporting it? Is there no difference between a man who flew to Kyoto to single-handedly rescue
an international framework for limiting greenhouse gas emissions - and one who believes environmental goals should be met through negotiations with industry?“Kyoto!” Nader said derisively. “It was watered down so badly, structured
to alienate the third world, then Gore went back home and there was no push to make the case“ for the Senate to ratify the treaty. There was unanimous opposition in the Senate.
But Nader said that should
not have stopped Gore. ”It’s what do they stand for versus what do they fight for - I discount the rest as linguistic differences.“ He concluded, ”Anyway, my phrase is that there are few major differences.“
Source: Melinda Henneberger, NY Times
Nov 1, 2000
Drilling Alaska is a temporary fix for an inebriated system
Q: Do you support drilling in Alaska?A: The way to deal with energy was for Clinton/Gore to establish strong energy efficiency standards, which they did not do, especially for the motor vehicle industry, which is now going down to 24 1/2 mpg,
and also for lighting and heating. The energy you don’t waste is the energy you don’t have to drill in a beautiful preserve up there in northern Alaska, which is just a temporary fix anyway for our inebriated energy gouging and pricing system.
Source: Nader-Buchanan debate on ‘Meet the Press’
Oct 1, 2000
More renewables & more efficency to stave off global warming
Our response to global warming must include the following: - Increased use of renewable energy and diminished use of fossil fuels, especially for electric power generation;
- improved fuel efficiency of all vehicles;
- improved efficiency of
all appliances and industrial equipment;
- the elimination of all subsidies for fossil fuel and nuclear development and production.
- We need to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and [achieve] the 7% reductions promised by the US by 2008.
Source: Ralph Nader’s letter to the Sierra Club
Jul 24, 2000
Raise CAFE standards; treat SUVs like cars
I would veto any legislation that makes it impossible to consider increasing fuel efficiency. I would close the loophole that allows sport utility vehicles to avoid the same CAFE standards as cars. And I support raising the CAFE standard to at least 45
miles per gallon for cars and 35 miles per gallon for light trucks, to be phased in over five years. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 70% immediately just to keep global warming from getting any worse.
Source: Ralph Nader’s letter to the Sierra Club
Jul 24, 2000
Congress should revive energy policies before crisis
Remember when the “energy crisis” was the big political issue? Well, what happened? The US now imports more than 50% of what the
country uses. Congress is mired in the dark ages when it comes to rejecting rational, efficient, and environmentally benign energy policies.
Source: In the Public Interest: “The New Energy Crisis”
Oct 6, 1999
Promote energy independence to avoid foreign wars
We should be energy independent in this country. Solar energy is getting more efficient, more practical, a lot of small businesses going into it, there’s no reason
for us to get into foreign involvements because of the abuse of power of global corporations.
Source: Interview on “Larry King Live”
Oct 6, 1996