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Text of McCain climate speech

Here's text of the climate speech GOP presidential candidate John McCain gave today in Portland, Ore., his most major address on the issue to date.

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Thank you all very much. I appreciate the hospitality of Vestas Wind Technology. Today is a kind of test run for the company. They've got wind technicians here, wind studies, and all these wind turbines, but there's no wind. So now I know why they asked me to come give a speech.

Every day, when there are no reporters and cameras around to draw attention to it, this company and others like it are doing important work. And what we see here is just a glimpse of much bigger things to come. Wind power is one of many alternative energy sources that are changing our economy for the better. And one day they will change our economy forever.

Wind is a clean and predictable source of energy, and about as renewable as anything on earth. Along with solar power, fuel-cell technology, cleaner burning fuels and other new energy sources, wind power will bring America closer to energy independence. Our economy depends upon clean and affordable alternatives to fossil fuels, and so, in many ways, does our security. A large share of the world's oil reserves is controlled by foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart. And as our reliance on oil passes away, their power will vanish with it.

Grist staff Politics

Eco-parents unimpressed by ‘green’ Barbie accessories

Barbie BCause, toymaker Mattel’s attempt to appeal to the green-minded tyke, has turned out to be not so popular with green-minded parents. The line of patchwork-y Barbie accessories made from cast-off fabric has inspired a blogging backlash. “The eco-conscious young girls I know of steer clear of Barbie,” wrote Jennifer Lance on blog Eco Child’s […]

Grist staff Technology

Green-city ranking group SustainLane explains its methodology

With a chart-topping 26,000 people per square mile, New York City has to be smart.Photo: Tom TwiggBack in 2004, the news emerged that two-thirds of the world’s population might be living in cities by 2030. At SustainLane, we got curious about what cities were doing to handle that growth, and we began taking a closer […]

Grist staff Cities

Emission reduction targets proposed by McCain are insufficient but squarely in the mainstream

Here is the schedule of targets John McCain has proposed for his cap-and-trade program: 2012: Return emissions to 2005 levels (18 percent above 1990 levels) 2020: Return emissions to 1990 levels (15 percent below 2005 levels) 2030: 22 percent below 1990 levels (34 percent below 2005 levels) 2050: 60 percent below 1990 levels (66 percent […]

David Roberts Politics

Umbra on plastic bottles and BPA

Dear Umbra, I’ve been hearing a lot in the news lately about the dangers of certain kinds of plastic bottles. What’s the lowdown? Thirstily, Ginger Littleton, Colo. Dearest Ginger, Always happy to be your source for the lowest lowdown around town. Today’s lowdown: Don’t use plastic bottles, and avoid canned food. All the latest plastics […]

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New McCain climate ad aimed at independent voters

John McCain released a new television advertisement today to accompany his big climate policy speech in Portland, Ore., this afternoon. Here’s the ad: The ad illustrates McCain’s attempts to appeal to independents; climate change is a key area where he believes he can make inroads with voters outside the Republican party. Note these lines in […]

Kate Sheppard Politics

Tornado ravages town already ravaged by pollution

Six people were killed in Picher, Okla., this weekend as a giant tornado swept through. The not-so-bright bright side: It’s likely that some fatalities were avoided, since many residents of Picher have already left. Picher is so polluted with mining waste that it’s listed as a Superfund site; the town’s booming lead and zinc mines […]

Grist staff Cities

Congestion pricing might come in handy

Speaking of our crumbling public facilities, CBO Director Peter Orszag testified in Congress on Friday and detailed the country’s infrastructure needs. They are dire, in some cases. He notes in a related blog post (yes, the CBO director has a blog): Although capital spending on transportation infrastructure already exceeds $100 billion annually, studies from the […]

Ryan Avent Cities

Republican candidate’s climate proposals better than expected but still behind the curve

On Monday, John McCain will deliver a speech on climate change from Portland, Oregon. In it he will lay out the framework for climate policy under a McCain administration. After a primary spent shoring up his credentials among the Republican base, this is the beginning of his general election strategy: Operation I’m Not Bush. (One […]