The video above is an interview with the emanently quotable GM vice Chairman Bob Lutz on GM's move towards making greener cars and CAFE standards at the 2007 LA Auto Show. Bob says the reasoning for making more fuel efficient cars is really a global one because there are places around the world with $9-a-gallon gas. Bob continues by saying they will continue to make "both" anyways (i.e make green green cars and fuel wasting sports cars and SUVs).

In the interview, Bob was specifically asked about Hillary Clinton's CAFE standard which is the mpg plan by a presidential contender that calls for the largest increase in the shortest amount of time. Bob says the candidates are on a "mad race" to outdo each other by coming up with ever larger CAFE standards. Bob then makes an apparent direct slam at Clinton's plan to give them money to "retool" their plants and repeated his apparent new reasoning that CAFE means larger cars. Here is exactly what he said:

The politicians now seem to be in a mad race to who can come out with the larger number. Nobody seems to be concerned with technological feasibility or what it's going to take in terms of technology and cost to reach these numbers. Because anybody who thinks we can just sort of retool the factory to produce 35 MPG cars obviously does not understand the situation.

Bob could have meant another candidate reference to retooling plants but I don't recall another candidate or policy asking for retooling. Anyway, just the way says "retool" makes me think Hillary's energy plan was not read happily in GM offices. Bob Lutz wittiest quote, from the many great one in this short interview, was probably that "a lot of the CAFE discussion is well intentioned, maybe, but misguided." You, sir, are a poet.

Maybe.

[Source: Wall Street Journal video]

In the above video, Hillary explains her shift from voting against ethanol to supporting it in her energy plan. Hillary says she voted against ethanol on behalf of her constituents because subsidizing ethanol in the middle of the country would raise prices in New York. Hillary says she can now support ethanol because there is a broader base for ethanol in New York, which she helped create, making transportation cost no longer a factor. Here is exactly what she said:

The fact is that when we first had an occasion to vote on ethanol back in the early part of my term, I voted on behalf of my constituents. There was very credible evidence, that it would, if all we did was subsidize ethanol in the middle of the country, raise gas prices on both coasts which would have directly driven up the cost in New York and I didn't think that would be a good idea for a senator from New York and what I have been pleased about and I had a role in this, was to create a much broader base for ethanol. We now have ethanol plants in New York and so the idea that you would have only one part of the country and the transportation cost would be quite expensive because of the way ethanol has to be transported, is no longer a factor. So, I happily support corn ethanol, all forms of ethanol, research for cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel.

Hillary continues talking about visits to plants that create biodiesel from things like animal fat which she says is great and she is in favor of before she is cut off. Earlier in the video, Hillary says "environment and energy" provide the perfect platform to bring together problem solving Americans. Political tap dancing or great local representation? Sound off in comments.

Related:

• Obama: Clinton made a "major reversal" on ethanol

[Source: YouTube]

Barack Obama says that now that Hillary Clinton has changed from an anti-ethanol position to one supporting ethanol in her new energy plan, she might switch back under pressure. Here's what he said:

It's hard to believe that she is a strong ethanol supporter given her track record and this is something that represents a major reversal and what we need is consistency on these issues. ... If she's willing to shift this quickly on this issue, we don't know whether she will shift back when it gets hard.

Clinton has defended her record on ethanol, saying "I never was against using ethanol. I never was against the idea that we had to try these alternatives." Obama still thinks she could have done more. Again, Mr. Obama:

These are a lot of votes and over a lengthy period of time. ... If she were committed to alternative energy, there certainly would have been opportunities for her to amend the legislation or alter it in ways that would address any concerns that she had.

Tell us what you think. Could Hillary have shown more support for things like forcing cars to be flex fuel or adding ethanol pumps at gas stations? Do you think Hillary's support for ethanol after the election will be lukewarm? Do you think Hillary is right for not showing too much support for ethanol?

[Source: Des Moines Register]

Hillary Clinton's energy plan includes a fuel efficiency standard of 55 MPG by 2030. For comparison, Edwards proposes 40 MPG by 2016, Bill Richardson 50 MG by 2020 and Obama 40 MPG by 2016 but with a 4 percent increase each year. The Energy Bill, currently being debated, may be 35 MPG by 2020. Hillary's plan is not all sticks and includes some very large carrots: $20 billion of "Green Vehicle Bonds" to help U.S. automakers "retool" their plants so vehicles will hit 55 MPG.

Hillary wants to increase current renewable fuel goal from the current level of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012 to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022 and to 60 billion gallons by 2030. The energy plan calls for a greenhouse gas emissions target for cellulosic and other advanced biofuels to ensure that they move over time towards a standard of emitting at least 80 percent fewer greenhouse gases as compared to gasoline. The energy plan also include loan guarantees to spur the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol capacity.

Hillary's energy plan also calls for a $10,000 tax credit for plug-in hybrids, $2 billion investment in battery research and 100,000 PHEVs in the federal fleet by 2015. AutoblogGreen is all about green transport but there are some really good ideas about smart power grids development and new law forcing corporations to consider climate change that just might impact large automakers in a green way too.

IMHO this is the best energy plan from any of the Democratic candidates. Tell me what you think of this plan in comments. Is 55 MPG impossible or 2030 too much time? Are all those billions just a bribe to corporations to accept these new standards? Below the fold are some quotes from a PDF about Hillary's energy plan. Clinton will speak all week about energy and we will have much more as the story develops.

[Source: Hillary Clinton's website and tipster OhmExcited]

Hillary Clinton's energy plan is expected today or tomorrow according to Grist. Hillary is widely seen as the Democratic front runner, so this energy plan will be considered by the media more than any other. What's Hillary's fuel economy standard? What does Hillary have to say about ethanol? We will keep you informed as the story develops.

So far, we know the plan will be introduced with the speech "Powering America's Future: New Energy, New Jobs" this morning at Clipper Turbine Works, Inc. in Cedar Rapids where she will take questions from the press, according to CNN. Tuesday, November 6, Hillary will give a policy address at the Renewable Energy Group in Newton, Iowa, according to a press release.

Related:

• Video: Quiet, Obama's new TV ad has "Detroit" fuel efficiency joke
• Edwards' Plan: 40 MPG Cafe, all cars flex fuel and more
• Richardson: you won't lose your SUV

[Source: Grist, CNN, Press Release]