American will make a critical decision for president of the United States in 2012. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney’s paths for solutions to our country’s problem are divergent and divisive. Let’s take a look at their energy policy proposals and what they mean for Ohio.
This difference will determine how energy jobs are created. Obama’s focus on renewable energy has created 3.1 million new green jobs, including 126,000 in Ohio. CNN reported that the top three clean-tech states employ more people in green jobs than the coal industry does nationwide. The wind industry now has 75,000 workers in the U.S. compared to 81,000 in the coal industry.
Romney says four million new jobs in oil, gas and coal industries will be created by opening up coastal Virginia and the Carolinas for oil exploration and cutting back on environment regulations.
The regulations Romney wants to gut are from the 1970 Clean Air Act. President Richard Nixon signed into law the act which is the foundation for many of today’s environmental regulations. Many of Romney’s proposals would require major reductions in America’s environmental standards.
Another major difference between the candidates is in energy tax credits. Romney favors a proposal to eliminate the wind energy tax credit while refusing to end the tax credits for fossil fuel energy. This would have a devastating impact on Ohio which ranked as the fastest growing state for new wind-power installations last year.
Obama supports the wind tax credit and a reduction in the $4 billion a year the oil industry receives in tax credits.
The car mileage standards negotiated between the auto industry and the federal government is also up for debate. An agreement between the federal government and the auto industry sets the standard of 54.5 miles per gallon for autos by 2025. It will save Americans an average of $8000 over the life of the car while reducing greenhouse emissions. The auto industry does not want to renegotiate the standards. Romney wants to reduce it anyway.
Polls show approximately eighty percent of Americans support the increased production and use of renewable energy. The explosion of renewable energy into the consciousness of the world is stunning. Going back in time now and solely embracing fossil fuel energy to the detriment of renewable energy makes no sense.
Two great Ohioans, Orville and Wilbur Wright, were the first to build and fly an airplane. Sixty-six years later another great Ohioan, Neil Armstrong, walked on the moon. The stunning advancement of aviation technology is only one example of how quickly innovation can come once you start focusing the country’s intentions on it.
The energy policy difference between the two candidates is stark. We cannot go back to the 1960s and power our world solely on fossil fuels. We must look to the future and trust technology will continue to lead our country to greater heights. The energy policy differences between the candidates makes Ohio Energy Soldiers’ support for the reelection of Barack Obama for president of the United States an easy one.
John McGory is an Ohio Energy Soldier. Become a fan of our Facebook page by going to this link. We support a strong Ohio economy linked to renewable energy.
No comments:
Post a Comment