Governor Bill Richardson (D)

Global Warming and Energy

Mandatory Emission Caps

"My climate program would be more ambitious and aggressive than these baselines. Further, it would be integrated in a way that no other platform is, to make energy security and climate protection into twin national goals, patriotic initiatives that engage and involve the American people. Congress will enact my aggressive, comprehensive ten-year energy and climate action plan by the end of 2009, or I will act for the people of the United States. Having been on many of the congressional committees with jurisdiction in these areas (such as House Energy and Commerce), I know what I am asking Congress to do, and I know it is unprecedented. But I also have the relationships and experience with congressional leaders to know how to make this program happen.”

International Action on Global Warming

"My international program ("Lead By Example") includes an immediate return to international negotiations with the goal of keeping atmospheric carbon levels below 450 parts per million (as scientists say we must to prevent catastrophic climate change), bilateral collaboration with developing countries and allies and financing entities to fund the small increment needed to move to carbon-clean energy decisions, outreach to our neighbors in Canada and Mexico, and other important measures. I want the United States to enact good policy, follow up on it, and show the world what we can do together.”

Fuel Efficiency Standards

“My comprehensive package includes a 50 mpg fuel economy standard for conventionally fueled cars and trucks (plug-in cars, even hybrids, would not count toward this standard). I realize that industry and come people in the finance community say this will add $6,000 to the cost of a car. I say that amount is less than a car-buyer will save in reduced fuel costs within the first 4-5 years, depending in fuel costs. Further, we will offer significant consumer rebates and support to automakers (Detroit or independent) who buy or produce highly efficient cars. It’s time to get American industry on board with massive shifts in technology (such as plug-ins) that could restore their world leadership in automotive technology, and to embrace the use of lightweight, but safe and strong, materials that we didn’t have available 20 years ago. If Congress and Detroit won’t act, we will find automakers who will – who are already starting to penetrate the market and deserve our support as much as the ones who are dominant today.”

Renewable Energy Standards

I think the utility sector needs to move much faster. We can make 30% -- perhaps my most aggressive energy and climate goal – by pushing storage technologies and using cap and trade to let the market close highly inefficient old plants. If my plan for plug-in cars succeeds, we will absolutely need a much larger renewable content than 20% by 2020. The combination of retirements and new demand for plug-in cars makes 30% the bottom line. Further, we should tell the electric industry it will meet a 50% requirement by 2040 critical to achieving our carbon emissions reduction targets, and to moving forward with the energy storage technologies (perhaps including technology) that will allow renewables to exceed 30% in the year between 2020 and 2040. I support long-term extension of renewable energy production tax credits (10 years, although I would weight them to push earlier investments in renewables so that potential investors don’t wait a decade to put renewables in place), and I support tax incentives so that promising energy storage options are proposed, explored, and implemented in the next ten years.”

Efficiency Standards

“I want new building codes, based on regional standards, and would make energy grants to states contingent on acceptable green building revisions to state-level building codes. Further, I would encourage new energy efficiencies with a 20% improvement requirement by 2020, which will motivate utilities and industry to incentivize the most important and efficient new technologies and efficiencies. I would add funding for some of these incentives from proceed of our carbon permit auctions. I have shown that I am willing to take strong steps at the federal level – my air conditioner standards as Energy Secretary were the strongest of the proposed actions. I am not a big fan of ‘we can’t do it, it’s too much.’ I want to hear ‘we can do it, here’s how.’ And that’s what I have shown again and again in my different positions in government.”

Nuclear Energy

"I am a fan of renewable and efficiency subsidies. As I stated on "Meet the Press," I think nuclear can play a role if it meets high standards, proves itself safe, and can manage its waste streams, but I would stop all the nuclear subsidies. This is quite a statement from a candidate whose home state has the nuclear national labs. But, as always, I said it publicly and I mean it.”

Liquid Coal

“I have been very clear: we face twin challenges – energy security and climate protection. We can’t take measures in one area that defeat goals in the other. I do believe that coal-to-liquids is possible with biomass co-firing tat would remove and sequester atmospheric carbon, so I don’t rule it out. And any CTL would have to be accompanied by carbon sequestration under the broad energy/climate measures I proposed above. But CTL without sequestration is out of the question if we are serious about energy security AND climate protection. Which I am.”

New Coal Plants

“We need policies that set flat standards, such as the sweeping measures I propose above, and don’t single out coal for elimination. Coal will play a carbon-clean role of some sort, but it must meet sharp, fast reductions in emissions to compete. I think FutureGen is a platinum-plated slowpoke meant to divert our attention. Again. Let me point to my record. We adopted a new law this year basically outlawing new conventional coal development and allowing new tax credits for coal gasification meeting the emissions profile of at least advanced natural gas. I sent my people out to California repeatedly in recent years to encourage them on their new policies that force higher greenhouse gas performance for new electrical contracts, and I have tried to get New Mexico industry and other players to invest in our bountiful wind and solar. What other governor, or senator, has opposed two new coal plants in the past five years? I don’t talk about it. I do it.”