Obama Would Bankrupt Coal Industry, Raise Energy Prices to “Change Behavior”

November 2nd, 2008

Audio from a speech in San Francisco confirms Barack Obama’s plans to shut down construction of new coal plants:

“I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.

“That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.

“The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.

‘It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”

The above goes against the campaign’s pitch to “Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology”.

And for resolving rising consumer energy prices, kiss that goodbye too:

The problem is not technical, uh, and the problem is not mastery of the legislative intricacies of Washington. The problem is, uh, can you get the American people to say, “This is really important,” and force their representatives to do the right thing? That requires mobilizing a citizenry. That requires them understanding what is at stake. Uh, and climate change is a great example.

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

Yes, we need to develop alternative energy resources — but not in the drastic ways proposed by Obama. A balanced transition using current domestic reserves in oil, coal, shale, and natural gas will need to be considered as America’s energy developers work to build and implement the new technologies. What Obama wants us to do is to go “cold turkey” on our current energy resources — and such a sharp move will further depress our economy.

Sadly, voters will choose undefined “change” over common sense.

Update: Maverick & ‘Cuda strike back

Update 2 (11/4): Visual evidence.

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Filed under Blogosphere, Commentary, Politics | Comments (9)

9 Responses to “Obama Would Bankrupt Coal Industry, Raise Energy Prices to “Change Behavior””

  1. Ted on November 2, 2008 November 2, 2008 - 11:20 pm

    PUMA + COALGATE = OBAMA RIP

  2. na on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 5:37 am

    For those who are disinclined, it is a good thing. Note: I am not an Obama supporter, I am a supporter of humanity, good will, and righteousness.
    God Bless,

  3. Sunny on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 8:50 am

    Life must change. This is just one of the changes needed. Not overnight, but by transition. Slowly close the door on one dirty, unhealthy industry and start squeeking a fresh new door open. How do you think our nation got to be so powerful? Not by staying with old and outdated ideas. With a continually growing society, we must consider changes, there are no other alternatives if we want to keep living.

  4. D.C. Thornton on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 9:03 am

    “I am a supporter of humanity, good will, and righteousness.”

    Yet you have no objection to Obama’s plans to kill hundreds of thousands of jobs in the coal industry. How “humane” and “righteous” of you.

    You ARE an Obama supporter.

  5. Obama Supporter on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 12:23 pm

    What’s wrong with you, how is Obama bankrupting the Coal Industry, you are hate/scare mongers. This simply states that Obama supports “CLEAN COAL” Energy. And those greedy companies that pollute should be fined and taxed. So to summarize, Dirty Coal = BAD, Clean Coal = Good. Bankrupt, like Joe Biden said “Is this a joke?”

  6. theo on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 1:24 pm

    More of the carbon tax fraud. The current Earth changes are not all ‘man made’, indeed the entire solar system is experiencing temperature fluctuations and science is just getting a hand on the ‘electric universe’ theory and how it relates to envormental/temperature changes. NoBama could not in any way ‘bankrupt’ the coal industry because it would require Congress to be behind it and the whores therin would be voted out if they even supported such insanity. Especially considering the ‘carbon footprint’ of producing ethanol. Besides charging the ‘producers’ will only force them to pass on the cost to the enduser thus we have yet another ’stealth’ tax upon the American people and ‘gubmint’ including the military will all be exempt and continue to pollute and use massive wasteful amounts of energy. Tax breaks to encourage renewable sources of energy is the way to go, not taxing the current methods out of exisistence.

  7. Draconius Horribilus on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 3:45 pm

    Obama is beloved by the masses. He is our champion who will transcend the pettyness and divisiveness that permeates American politics.

  8. D.C. Thornton on November 3, 2008 November 3, 2008 - 3:59 pm

    “What’s wrong with you, how is Obama bankrupting the Coal Industry, you are hate/scare mongers.”

    Words from your candidate’s mouth, and corroborated by the press. All facts, yet I’m the hatemonger/fearmonger for mentioning it.

    Well at least you didn’t call me a racist.

    I know what clean coal technology is; however, the coal still has to be mined in order for it to be used. Obama’s scheme would put miners, engineers, scientists, and builders out of work — all in the name of political correctness. If weren’t for those so-called greedy companies, they wouldn’t be able to provide jobs and grow the economy.

    Do I want coal-powered energy plants to be more efficient with less pollutants? You bet. Do I believe in transitioning to newer fuel technologies to achieve energy independence? Absolutely. However, Going cold turkey by not using domestic oil, coal, natural gas, and shale while developing alternatives AT THE SAME TIME will only worsen our current economic situation and keep us dependent upon energy producing nations that wish us ill.

    Think about it.

  9. Ronn on November 8, 2008 November 8, 2008 - 9:52 am

    Bottom line is, McCain nor Obama were ready to lead this country. This was the most horrible choices we’ve ever had in an election. It was a Lose/Lose situation. Strap yourselves in…It’s gonna be a long, bumpy 4 years! (as if the last 8 wasnt bad enough)

Comments are closed.