McCain proposes new "Lexington Project" for US Ene

Plantagenet

McCain has recently proposed drilling on the outer continental shelf and building 45 new nuclear plans and developing better battery storage for electric cars.

All of these things are part of his "Lexington Project"... basically a large government "Manhatten project" for energy to respond to high oil prices and projected energy shortfalls in the U.S..

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MCCAIN: THE LEXINGTON PROJECT
Wed June 25, 2008 12:50:11 ET

In recent days I have set before the American people an energy plan, the Lexington Project, named for the town where Americans asserted their independence once before. And let it begin today with this commitment: In a world of hostile and unstable suppliers of oil, this nation will achieve strategic independence by 2025.

This pledge is addressed to all concerned -- to those abroad whose power flows from an accident of geology, and to you, my fellow Americans, whose strength proceeds from unity of purpose. Together, we will break the power of OPEC over the United States. And never again will we leave our vital interests at the mercy of any foreign power.

Some will say this goal is unattainable within that relatively short span of years -- it's too hard and we need more time. Let me remind them that in the space of half that time -- about eight years -- this nation conceived and carried out a plan to take three Americans to the Moon and bring them safely home. In less than a third of that time, the gathered energies of my father's generation built the industrial might that overcame Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. That is the scale of our achievement when we set our minds to a task. That is what this country can do when we see a danger, and declare a purpose, and find the will to act.

As president, I will turn all the apparatus of government in the direction of energy independence for our country -- authorizing new production, building nuclear plants, perfecting clean coal, improving our electricity grid, and supporting all the new technologies that one day will put the age of fossil fuels behind us. Much will be asked of industry as well, as automakers and others adapt to this great turn toward new sources of power. And a great deal will depend on each one of us, as we learn to make smarter use of energy, and also to draw on the best ideas of both parties, and work together for the common good.

This Project is not a plan calibrated to please every interest group or to meet every objection. That is how we arrived to our present predicament. That is how energy policy in Washington became a long list of subjects avoided, options ruled out, and possibilities foreclosed. Nor can I promise you that the long-term success of this Project will bring instant relief. In the mission of energy security, some tasks are the work of decades and some the work of years. And they will take all the will and resolve of which we are capable. But I can promise you this. Unless we begin this mission now, nothing will change at all, except for the worse. And when we succeed in the hard reform ahead, your children will live in a more prosperous country, in a more peaceful world.

DomusAlbion

These are all good ideas. Hopefully Obama will come up with a similar or perhaps better plan. Of course it then need to be drafted into a bill and go through the legislature and be modified there. Eventually something will pass into law and implementation can begin.

So, in otherwords: We're screwed.
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emersonbiggins

Ludi

Obama energy plan
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Plantagenet

AirlinePilot

The only way the US becomes energy independent by 2025 in any way shape or form is by using a whole lot less. Anyone see that happening anytime soon?

Using the legislature to perform any task in the United States makes it basically doomed to failure from the start. We wont legislate our way out of this. Someone needs to step up to the plate and mandate radical and rapid change with the backing of corporate leadership. None of this is anything more than fancy hot air election bullsh1t blown up all of our asses

Last time I checked my geology books Coal is a fossil fuel.

vox_mundi · Tar Sands Joined: Sep 27, 2006 Posts: 20

The McCain proposal is the same con the current administration has been using on the sheeple since they got in town. They know people are illiterate when it comes to numbers. Here is why.

In 2008 US population is 300 million; in 2030 US population is projected to be 385 million.
In 2008 we have 104 nuclear reactors generating 787 billion kWh/yr versus a total power generation of 4063 billion kWh/yr. 19.4% nuclear. Source EIA
Demand for electricity is projected to rise 1.5% per year now to 2030. Source EIA
In 2030 150 nuclear reactors will generate 1129 billion kWh/yr versus a total power generation of 5554 billion kWh/yr. 19.7% nuclear.

With construction cost inflation those nukes will cost over $1.1 Trillion dollars.

The proposal does not mention that in addition to more nukes, to achieve 5554 billion kWh/yr of power generation, they will require an additional 34% increase in coal and 34% increase in nat. gas power generation during the same period.

Like he said ... he's not an economist. Apparently he's not good with numbers either.

Plantagenet

"As president, I will turn all the apparatus of government in the direction of energy independence for our country -- authorizing new production, building nuclear plants, perfecting clean coal, improving our electricity grid, and supporting all the new technologies that one day will put the age of fossil fuels behind us. "

--John McCain

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McCain clearly understands how significant the energy problems facing the US are, and he's clearly decided to make our energy problems the central focus of his campaign.

McCain's proposal has flaws, but its very easy to kvetch and find flaws in any proposal.

Personally, I think McCain deserves credit for coming up with a comprehensive energy plan and for having the political courage to take positions that aren't "poltically correct" (as in his support for nuclear power and his vote against the expanded corn ethanol subsidy program just voted through by Congress that most thinking people agree is causing food prices to rise).

Peak Oil is a big problem that is only going to get worse, and the US should be doing more then hoping it goes away when the dems in Congress ban Americans from buying oil futures contracts.

cube · Fusion Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 3823

Plantagenet

Chuckmak

i love watching fascist conservatives and communist liberals discuss this like anything's going to change.
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Cog

mos6507

Let's face it, doing SOMETHING about these problems is a big step up from what we've got with Bush. So you can see the glass as half empty or half full. Expecting Obama or McCain to recite Overshoot on national TV ain't gonna happen.
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cube · Fusion Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 3823

Ludi

Yeah, gotta love that Low Carbon Coal.

Smile

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