Barack Obama: Clean Energy Will Cost U.S.

The politics of hope are easy to vote for, so winning politicians -- and legions of losers, for that matter -- tend to stay relentlessly positive on the campaign trail (with the exception, of course, of pointing out flaws in their rivals).

So it's refreshing, in a way, to hear Barack Obama talk frankly about the costs of transforming the American economy to run on clean energy. It's not going to be a all green collar jobs and clean air, though both are happy byproducts.

Obama acknowledged that there would be "no free lunch" if the country elects him and he successfully adopts his plan to auction carbon pollution credits, The Des Moines Register reported. But the $150 billion, 10-year plan is among the most ambitious so far suggested by a candidate.

Past generations of Americans were more familiar with the idea of sacrifice for the national good. Whatever candidate wins in 2008, and whatever energy plan the country adopts, if it leads us toward a cleaner, low-carbon future, it's a good thing. But it won't be easy, and Obama deserves credit for acknowledging that.

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