Sarah Palin’s Energy Policy, or Lack Thereof

Imagine a snowball rolling down a mountain, growing and growing as it falls. That’s just a taste of the media avalanche encompassing Sarah Palin of late – growing with each tell-all, blog, profile, and interview. And, of Palin’s many arguable assets for the McCain campaign, her energy policy experience has been flaunted shamelessly by a hopeful, upbeat, aggressive Republican party. Not only is it a major issue for Americans right now, but one that the McCain camp hopes will negate Palin’s lack of experience in other political arenas. But, all political maneuvering aside, what exactly is Sarah Palin’s energy policy?

History

Sarah Palin is experienced. That is no lie. But it is also no real surprise, she has, after all, been the Governor of Alaska, a hotbed for energy discussion over the last decade. Indeed, Palin has a very interesting energy history as a member of the Alaskan government. One in which she has stolidly pushed for drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and, at the same time, raised taxes on oil companies in her state. She even chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and then resigned in protest of her colleagues’ actions. Such independent and bipartisan moves are what McCain is touting as “maverick.” Yet, as anyone will agree, there is more than oil and gas in our energy future.

Renewable Energy?

But specifics on the broader range of energy sources have been harder to come by. The focus all around has been microscopic in its attention to oil and ANWR. I can say that Palin generally supports renewable energy; so she says. But, like her running mate, no clear semblance of a plan is given. Evidence? There is essentially no renewable energy policy in Palin’s home state. So, I can only assume, Palin must follow McCain on energy issues outside of oil and natural gas. That being said, expect a high propensity for clean coal and nuclear power.

Across the Aisle?

So what about Sen. Joe Biden, Obama’s prospective Vice President? Here is Sarah Palin’s foil, a man with decades of Congressional experience and an on-paper-history of promoting renewable energy sources including, most notably, ethanol (He is from Delaware, a big producer of corn and soybeans). Biden has put energy at the top of his priorities in his VP-campaign. He is generally in line with Barack Obama on energy issues as well. Like Obama, Biden does not really embrace any specific renewable energy source, just a general push for research and development of wind, solar, biofuels, and other renewables. But it is something, and a lot more progressive than McCain/Palin’s energy plan. Read Obama/Biden’s New Energy for America Plan.

Biden has strictly opposed drilling in ANWR. His argument: that OPEC, the “cartel,” will only raise their prices in response to our temporary boost in domestic supply, ensuring that prices at the pump will remain right where they are. Palin does not seem to address the fact that, despite any drilling in Alaska, the majority of our oil will still be imported.

Posted on September 19th in Solar Politics by Dan.