Getting started

There’s a wealth of information on the web about candidates’ platforms for alternative energy.  The site I’ve found most informative is a blog, www.grist.org, which provides a table describing each candidate’s position on greenhouse gas emissions, fuel economy standards, renewable energy, biofuels, coal and nuclear energy.  There are also interviews and videos where candidates expand on their agendas: http://www.grist.org/candidate_chart_08.html?source=most_popular  

Of course, to understand what all this means it’s important to be fluent in the many kinds of energy technology.  About half of the candidates support investment in “coal to liquid” fuels, but some do so only under the condition that they emits 20 percent less carbon over their lifecycle than conventional fuel.  For more information on how it works, check out this illustration from the Coal to Liquid Foundation: http://www.futurecoalfuels.org/technology.asp The ”coal to liquid” technology uses coal gasification and liquification to produce diesel that, according to the foundation, is “virtually sulfur-free… cleaner than conventional diesel. It burns more completely and emissions are significantly lower than low-sulfur diesel, as tested by the Department of Defense in 6.5 liter diesel engines. Most of the CO2 is already concentrated and ready for capture and possible sequestration or for use in enhanced oil or gas recovery.”  The technology is already used in South Africa, but is yet to be developed in the United States.