Carol Browner: U.S. Needs a National Energy Policy

Obama’s climate czar says businesses need clear energy standards to compete in the global market

By U.S. News Staff

April 5, 2010 RSS Feed Print

Carol Browner, the director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, says a comprehensive energy policy is critical to keep U.S. businesses from losing out to companies in China, India, and Germany.

Browner served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration, where she led efforts to strengthen controls on air and water pollution, and pushed for a national response to global warming.

U.S. News editor Brian Kelly talked with Browner at the recent U.S.News & World Report National Issues Briefing "Going Green: America's Cities and the Role of Government," about the challenges of creating a national energy policy in a fast-changing global marketplace, and the impact of the controversy over whether climate change is real.

Here's Carol Browner on leadership in energy and the environment.

Listen Now: Carol Browner

[Click here to listen to Kelly's interview with Browner.]

The U.S. News podcast series, Leadership for the Next Decade, explores the ideas, innovations, and solutions that will inspire America for the future. Moderated by U.S. News Editor Brian Kelly, the podcasts feature exclusive interviews with leaders across the spectrum, from education, business, art, science, and medicine to government, public service, and philanthropy.

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As I've said many times before, any viable U.S. Energy policy for the next few decades must include a combination of:

1. Consumption, Conservation and energy efficiency

2. Fossil Fuels-Oil, natural gas and coal

3. Nuclear

4. Renewables-wind, solar, ocean, biofuels, etc.

5. Geothermal, hydro, etc.

Fred Kesinger of TX 3:56PM May 19, 2010

That's what they said in 1973 after the oil embargo.

First step: Curb gas guzzling vehicles.

Objection: Americans like big cars. US car companies are dependent on them for profits.

Result: Rank cowardice and calcification in Congress brings fresh inertia.

Luther of LA 11:33PM April 06, 2010

As expected Carol Browner has ignored the need for Yucca Mountain to complete an energy policy that is both clean in its effuents, but also in its byproducts such as the 70,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel that sits in over 100 USA reactor sights with out a solution promised by the US government in 1996.

Edward Gonzalez is right in that DOE Sec Chu's blue ribbon commission is a sham and has even restricted its ability to consider Yucca Mountain as a central storage site.

This political disaster wastes over 9 Billion dollars already invested in thie very real and vialble storage facility.

We need to replace not only Chu, but Obama, Reid and Pelosi so we can allow our best technology to prevail, not simply that which is policitally coreect.

John Orth of WI 2:55PM April 06, 2010

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