Aggressive. Sustainable. Hurdles. Solution. Hillary Clinton’s Energy Policy

Contributing Writer Julio Valenzuela

Posted on Thursday 25th February 2016

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign website provides visitors with her comprehensive energy plan under the Issues section “Climate change and energy” (https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/climate/). She will focus on making America the clean energy superpower of the 21st century, if elected President.

According to Katie Fehrenbacker, contributing writer for Fortune.com, “Hillary released an ambitious plan to boost U.S. clean energy and fight climate change.”(Source: http://fortune.com/2015/07/27/hillary-clinton-solar-industry/)

Fehrenbacker goes on to address possible hurdles Clinton would encounter during her first year in office. For instance, having to extend the solar tax incentive and fight to keep President Obama’s controversial Clean Power Plan. (Source: http://www.c2es.org/federal/executive/epa/q-a-regulation-greenhouse-gases-existing-power)

Hillary Clinton’s policy - although aggressive - has been endorsed by the likes of climate change activist Tom Seyer, calling her “a strong leader in solving the climate crisis.”

Michael Brune – Sierra Club Executive Director – declared, “We applaud Secretary Clinton for laying out a bold energy plan that rightly identifies the expansion of our clean energy economy as a top priority.”

The Keystone pipeline was an issue Hillary opposed to, on September 22, 2015. "I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone pipeline as what I believe it is -- a distraction from important work we have to do on climate change," Clinton told a community forum in Des Moines, Iowa. (Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/politics/hillary-clinton-opposes-keystone-xl-pipeline/)

After breaking down her policy, here are the top priorities: (Source: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2015/07/26/renewable-power-vision/)

First on the plan agenda is installing 500 million solar panels. According to Clinton this would, “cut energy waste in homes, schools, and hospitals by a third; and reduce American oil consumption by a third.”

Second is to upgrade current power capacities. Combining the use of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and other forms of renewable energy.

The above two priorities are solely dependent on the continued use of the Clean Power Plan.

Clinton then plans the launch of a Clean Energy Challenge, with the intent of forming new partnerships with states, cities, and rural communities. Offering competitive grants, awards for communities that successfully cut the red tape that slows rooftop solar installation, transform the grid, and providing support for rural leadership.

The policy states, “As part of the Clean Energy Challenge, Clinton will ensure that every part of the federal government is working in concert to help Americans build a clean energy future.”

Clinton’s plan is strongly focused on residential usage. The impressive plan is encouraging, with several hurdles to overcome in order for it to be a success. Meticulous data could equip the policy with the support it needs to convince the government to pass the hurdles.

The emergence of new data indicating a high Return on Investment(ROI)from technology such as LED lighting, could coincide well with Clinton’s plan. An article by Charlie Szoradi, CEO of Independence LED lighting (http://independenceled.com/) states, “Military and civilian government facilities are wasting tax payer dollars at an extraordinary level with outdated lighting. Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology can cut the electricity consumption in half, and the private sector is embracing the high Return on Investment.” (Source: http://independenceled.com/war-on-energy-waste/) Making an argument to further extend the policy to focusing on commercial usage.

Author: Julio Valenzuela is a freelance researcher and writer. For services contact jcvalenzuela00@gmail.com

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