Palin’s Take on Renewable Energy

Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate Friday, touting her as a champion for "new energy sources."

The short announcement posted on McCain's Website described Palin as someone who has "challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us – Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent."

However, her definition of "new energy resources" is unclear. Palin, who was elected in 2006, is a staunch supporter of oil and gas drilling. She favors the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling, and she has carved out a reputation as a political reformer who isn't afraid to clash with senior members of her own party.

How Palin Backs Renewable Energy
The Sierra Club was quick to point out a story published by the Post and Courier in Charles, S.C., in August that underscored Palin's weak stance on renewable energy. "Alternative energy solutions are far from imminent and would require more than 10 years to develop," Palin said.

Palin has supported renewable energy in the past. In May, she signed a bill to spend $250 million over the next five years on renewable energy power plants from sources that include solar, wind, hydroelectric and natural gas.

This month, Palin signed a bill awarding TransCanada Pipelines the license to build a pipeline that costs an estimated $30 billion to transport natural gas from a new natural gas treatment plan in Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope to other states. The state would reimburse up $500 million of the project's cost.

Palin served on the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission, but resigned after a year to protest what she said were ethical violations by fellow commissioner Republican state chairman.

The Debate Intensifies

Will picking Palin draw a sharper divide between McCain and the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama?
Both presidential candidates have said they would support funding for renewable energy, biofuels, electric cars and a program to cap carbon-dioxide emissions and allow companies to trade emissions allowances.

Federal, state and local Republican and Democratic lawmakers, along with scientists and entrepreneurs, met in Las Vegas earlier this month to discuss energy policies. The goal was to produce an agenda that both parties would support, since many attempts by Congress to pass a new energy bill have failed this year (see Summit Produces Clean-Energy Agenda).