Everyone is talking about the impact the Massachusetts Senate race will have on national health care reform, but what about energy and the environment? Here's how the two candidates stack up:
Quick synopsis:
The Boston Globe recently published a piece about the two Massachusetts Senate candidates' differences on energy and environmental policy, in which, the author, Eric Moskowitz, boiled the differences down to key differences on the issue of climate change and what to do about it. In short, Coakley supports investment in clean energy and believes a cap-and-trade mechanism is the preferred method of curbing carbon emissions getting a handle on global warming.
Brown, on the other hand, has all but ignored the key debates in environmental policy that relate to climate change. He is opposed to cap-and-trade (well, he is now), but believes in the science behind anthropogenic global warming (sometimes) and what to do about it (kind of). Last week, the League of Conservation Voters launched a last-ditch effort to shine a light on Scott Brown's positions on the environment: (Candidates' platforms after video)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wld2ei2T1sw[/youtube]
Martha Coakley's Environmental Platform:
(From the Coakley campaign website where each point of the energy and environment platform is elaborated in great detail)
- Combating Global Warming
- Endorsing Cap-and-Trade
- Investing in Clean Energy
- Promoting Energy Efficiency
- Assisting Low Income Customers
Scott Brown's Environmental Platform
(From the Brown campaign website where the energy and environment platform is not elaborated at all)
"I support common-sense environment policy that will help to reduce pollution and preserve our precious open spaces. I realize that without action now, future generations will be left to clean up the mess we leave. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I support reasonable and appropriate development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and improved hydroelectric facilities. I oppose a national cap and trade program because of the higher costs that families and businesses would incur."
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