John Kerry: Pursue Renewable Energy Policy Now

Sen. John Kerry spokeat the Lux ExecutiveSummit on energy last week in Cambridge, MA. DN Editor-in-Chief JohnDodge interviewed him afterward and included his views from his presentation on a range of energy issues. While decidedlypartisan and complaining of fatigue from the late Red Sox playoff game thenight before, he was outspoken on energy.

On why our dependence on oil has grown for decades:

"Economic interests won out and I am talking about oil andgas. Most inventors sat on the sidelines. In the 1970s, Jimmy Carter declaredthe U.S.would become energy independent in 10 years. Actually, Nixon announced it in1973. Ford said by 1985. Reagan turned his back on energy (and) pulled outof the energy lab in Colorado(now the National Renewable Energy Lab). Oiland gas is the last worst mistake we made in the 20^th century."

On the dangers of relying on foreign oil and gas:

"There is no way possible for the U.S. to be secure against terrorismunless we free ourselves from fossil fuel. That's the reality. It does us greatenormous injury in terms of sending a billion dollars a day to Saudi Arabia.We're battling goblins."

On carbon reduction and carbon trading credit:

"If the cost is shared by everyone, it'll be written into thecost of doing business (Congress is considering several bills on carbonreduction). Some people think this is not the time to do it. I don't agree withthat. You can't be half pregnant on this. This is not as hard as people thinkit is. Let the market set the price of carbon (credits). In 1990 with the Clean Air Act (whichpromoted cleaner fuels and market-driven reductions in emissions), I vividlyremember the industry saying don't do this to us. It'll cost $4 billion. Itcost $2 billion and took (only) two years."

On the government's priorities with renewable energypolicy:

"It should be the great vision of the U.S. to createa framework and (encourage) entrepreneurs (to create) the jobs of the future.We've got to create jobs. Many of you (in the room) are responding: 'Are theseturkeys in Washingtongoing to get us a break?' We've got to get the energy policy right. We needprofound and dramatic change. We have a panoply of choices. The science (ofclimate change) is frightening and the math is not complicated. We've reallygot to proceed."

On conservation:

"In Europe, lights go on andoff as needed just like escalators. Here, escalators (always running) arewaiting for someone 1,000 miles away. That's the dumbest thing in the world."

On energy entrepreneurship:

"If I was in theprivate sector, that's where I'd be."