The Democratic Primaries: At A Glance

Where the Candidates Stand on Energy and Global Warming

By Dan Shapley

Talking about energy and the environment, Democrats can start to sound pretty similar. They all talk about human-caused global warming as an historic challenge and have outlined detailed proposals designed to jump-start investment in alternative energy. That's a good thing.
But look closely, and there are differences.
We've highlighted what makes them similar and what sets each apart. Click on each candidate's name for his or her detailed profile.

Sen. Hillary Clinton
The Plan: A $50 Billion Strategic Energy Fund, modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, that would pay for research, development and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other 'homegrown biofuels,' with the goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and creating 5 million 'clean energy' jobs in a decade.
How She'd Pay for It: Royalties from drilling on public land ($10 billion), elimination of oil company subsidies ($20 billion) and the enactment of a requirement that energy companies either pay into the fund or finance their own research and development projects ($20 billion).
What Sets Her Apart: A 'Connie Mae' program to help low-income and middle-income families make investments in energy efficiency at home.

Sen. John Edwards
The Plan: Edwards plans a $13 billion annual 'New Energy Economy Fund,' which would invest in new energy technology, slash greenhouse gas emissions 80% and create 150,000 jobs a year.
How He'd Pay for It: Elimination of oil company subsidies and proceeds from auctioning carbon credits allotted as part of a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas pollution regulation.
What Sets Him Apart: Create a GreenCorps within AmeriCorps to do encourage volunteers to undertake efficiency and environmental projects to earn forgiveness of college loans.

Sen. Mike Gravel
The Plan: Gravel, unlike other Democrats, doesn't have a comprehensive energy and global warming plan, but he promises to address global warming with a carbon tax, energy efficiency, alternative energy research and international cooperation.
What Sets Him Apart: Gravel would invest in a national electric high-speed rail system.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich
The Plan: Kucinich, unlike other Democrats, doesn't have a comprehensive energy and global warming plan, but he promises to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 80% and enact a New Green Deal to transfer clean energy technology to developing nations.
What Sets Him Apart: A Works Green Administration, modeled after FDR's Depression-era Works Progress Administration, to execute green development programs funded in part by zero-interest loans to states.

Barack Obama
The Plan: Obama would enact a $150 billion, 10-year plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and invest in renewable and alternative energy technology, including biofuels and clean coal.
How He'd Pay for It: An auction of carbon credits from a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas pollution regulation.
What Sets Him Apart: Creation of an independent, private Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund, funded with $10 billion for five years, to invest in technology development.

	Sick Building Syndrome
	Green Mortgages
	Localvores and Localtarians
	Colony Collapse Disorder
	CAFE Standards
	Deconstruction
	Bisphenol A

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