Part I : Palin and energy

So I’m really getting wrapped up in trying to write all my thoughts down about this election—and especially Sarah Palin. I’m continually struggling to find reasons for the Republican choice of Mrs. Palin as their VP candidate. A few reasons blatantly stand out, while some clear red flags pop up. I’m going to write these in a series, to explain why the McCain/Palin ticket is the wrong choice without giving you readers a headache—there’s so much to write on.

During the Republican convention, when Palin was being discussed and introduced, the only two traits that really stood out as *possible* positive attributes to her serving a public office were the fact that she is known as an “energy expert” and a “reformer.” Sure, we need some energy style reformation, but I have yet to see any form of alternative energies in her repertoire. She supports exploring drilling at home, specifically in the remote wilderness of Alaska’s ANWR area—not all too bad of an idea, but what exploration into alternative energies does she support or stand for? Under Palin, every resident of Alaska gets approximately $1000 from oil companies each year…Why does she support further drilling in Alaska?

Even the great T. Boone Pickens recognizes the need to the end the United State’s dependency on foreign oil. His plan, as his website outlines, includes cutting our dependency on foreign oil but at the same time investing, exploring, and using alternative energies, because the simple fact of using “domestic” oil will not last more than 60 years, let alone be a solution to energy problems.

As top of the ticket, considering his connections to big oil, his voting records, and his obvious opposition to alternative energies (although very outspoken of his concern for the environment), it’s clear to see that the McCain/Palin ticket is not the correct choice for those concerned about the environment, atmosphere, and the future of American energy sources.

It’s obvious that Palin will not be making the policies should the Republican ticket win come November 2008. McCain has a 24% lifetime approval rating from the League of Conservation Voters and has been voted the lowest-ranking lawmaker among all 535 member of congress.1 His rating for the past two years has been approximately 7%. McCain, unlike Palin, mostly (but not always…) opposes drilling in the ANWR region of Alaska—his views seem to change, depending on common thought of America’s energy needs. His spokespersons, for the most part, strongly advocate for his belief in not drilling within Alaska. But his pick for Vice President? She says, “It’s nonsense not to tap a safe domestic source of oil. I think Americans need to hold Congress accountable on this one.”

Palin approved Chevron’s (formerly Texaco) plan to dump toxic waste into the Cook Inlet of Alaska, which borders three national parks. Cook Inlet’s population of near extinct Baluga Whales has dropped from the thousands to the low 300s.2

Palin is not even concerned about global warming. In an interview for the September issue of the conservative magazine Newsmax, she stated that she doesn’t think global warming is caused by human actions. “I’m not one though who would attribute it to being manmade,” she said.3

It seems her views and understanding of global warming will need some honing and refiguring by her party and running mate, just as her non-experience and understanding of foreign policy did. For the first time ever, the Republican party has taken a stance on global warming, and it is the exact opposite of what Palin believes. The party’s new platform reads:

“The same human activity that has brought freedom and opportunity to billions has also increased the amount of carbon in the atmosphere,” the document reads. “Increased atmospheric carbon has a warming effect on the Earth. While the scope and long-term consequences of this warming effect are the subject of ongoing research, we believe the United States should take measured and reasonable steps today.”4

Even worse, only 27% of Republicans share this belief with their party. Blind faith, much?

Palin’s connections to Big Oil companies furthers the Republican stance and position within. “Gov. Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to … the agenda of Big Oil,” spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement that was the campaign’s first official response to the Alaska governor joining the GOP ticket. Her inauguration at the Republican Convention was sponsored by British Petroleum (BP), who also employs her husband. Further, Palin was unsuccessful while seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor for Alaska until she received generous donations and support from the VECO Corporation, a large Alaskan oil field company.5 Public corruption regarding VECO Corp. led the indictment of Senator Ted Stevens, and the VECO Corp. and its “donations” are currently under investigation by the FBI.6

Additionally, Palin vetoed a $1.5 million state and federal grant to the Alaska Center for Energy and Power organization, which was formed to develop new technologies to lower costs of energy for rural Alaskans. She also signed into law plan HB 152, which was a bill setting up a fund for renewable energy projects. She also agreed to give out $50 million of Alaskan funds for renewable energy projects. However, this money can only go towards projects using proven technologies 7,8

Further, she vetoed funding for a windfarm and replaced it with a half-billion dollar grant to any oil company that could further the Alaskan pipeline.9

More and more about Palin and other examples are out there—just google Palin and veto, oil, wind farm, alternative energy…Her vetoes of energy plans totals close to $270 million.

Maybe, as an energy specialist who “understands” policies, needs, and the system, Palin and her party should figure out their stance, rather than straddle the fence and play both sides. Or, she can continue as is and become just another Republican, accepting lobbyist bribes and money from Big Oil. Regardless, Palin and McCain have made it clear that the environment, alternative energies, and being truthful and solid in their beliefs are not part of their campaign.


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References:
1 http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/22/group_ranks_mccain_last_on_env.html
2 http://www.care2.com/news/submitted/category/animals/chevron, http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/144100/index.php
3 http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/palin-global-wa.html
4 http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=117D897C-18FE-70B2-A8A22D39966C7B99
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VECO_Corporation
6 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin
7 http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/may/29/palin-cuts-money-energy-research/
8 http://www.adn.com/front/story/415749.html
9 http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/144100/index.php