In my opinion, Obama won hands down because of his energy policy. While I don’t believe in clean coal (because it doesn’t exist), Obama won big on energy issues, because his energy policy does not rely heavily on nuclear power or offshore drilling. Obama has a more competent and thoughtful energy policy than McCain, because McCain’s energy policy is an all-of-the-above approach.  Anyone can develop an all-of-the-above approach to meet our energy needs.  

McCain’s all-of-the-above energy approach is poor energy policy, because it’s lazy energy policy, and he uses it to pander voters. Furthermore from tonight’s debate, McCain’s nexus in his all-of-the-above energy policy is the nuclearization of energy.

McCain claimed nuclear energy is safe, because he worked on ships powered by nuclear power. However, nuclear power isn’t safe, and unless you’re a nuclear engineer, I do not believe working on a nuclear-powered military ship makes one an expert on nuclear power.

McCain also claimed that nuclear power is clean. However, nuclear power isn’t clean, because the fuel must be mined, and storing the nuclear waste seems impossible. Furthermore, record droughts in the south have threatened to shut down nuclear power plants. Who knows how climate change will influence future nuclear power operations.  

Obama does favor nuclear power as one component to our energy mix of the future. Wisely, he doesn’t rely on nuclear power or offshore drilling. This is why Obama’s energy policy is more palatable than McCain’s energy policy.  Obama’s policy to export green energy technology for offsetting reliance on coal power is a smart move too.  Furthermore, Obama did well at delegitimizing the policy of offshore drilling as a farce by noting that the United States has only 3% of the world’s reserves, but consumes 25%.

Conservation was one important policy component that was lacking from tonight’s debate.  I would like to see both candidates support more energy conservation, since American culture wastes too much.

Tonight, McCain claimed that offshore drilling is immediately needed to reduce the price of oil and for our energy security. Isn’t conserving our mere 3% domestic oil supplies more of an energy security policy than pumping it out, selling it on the world market, and allowing oil companies to profit?  Furthermore, McCain has consitently voted against renewable energy and supported tax breaks for big oil.

More of the same McCain.