The John McCain presidential campaign has started running a new TV ad in Michigan that simultaneously tries to pander to everyone. Earlier this year, while campaigning in the primaries, he told voters in Michigan and Ohio that "those (manufacturing) jobs aren't coming back." In that bygone era of six months ago, McCain was opposed to any kind of protection for American businesses from free trade policies. Now the new ad proclaims support for federal loans to help automakers re-tool to build more efficient vehicles and presumably compete with certain foreign automakers.

Right after that, the ad supports tax credits for clean vehicles. This, of course, is followed by the mantra of "drill baby, drill!" It doesn't actually use that phrase, but does express support for off-shore drilling on the grounds that it would "reduce the cost of gas and spur truck sales." The primary reason there is suddenly so much interest in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is because of that high cost of fuel. Reducing the price of fuel would reduce the demand for more efficient vehicles and act counter to that re-tooling the ad mentions only seconds earlier. After all, it is the same plants that build those trucks that McCain says he wants to spur sales of that are being re-tooled. Tell us Mr. McCain, what is it you stand for?

Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Now that John McCain has been officially enthroned as the Republican party's choice for the window seat in the Oval Office, it's time to look at his proposals for how to deal with this country's seemingly insatiable thirst for energy. As expected, the focus of McCain's plan is to let the market decide what the best and most efficient means are to reduce America's dependence on imported petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A cap and trade system that would allow polluters to buy emissions offsets lies at the heart of the plan. Part of the system would involve auctioning off of emissions permits, presumably the way the FCC has done with spectrum auctions for wireless providers. Some of the proceeds from these auctions would be used to help support prize programs for the development of advanced technologies, such as McCain's $300 million battery prize. Some of the money would also be used to help low income people move to more efficient technologies.

McCain also wants to eliminate both subsidies for corn ethanol and tariffs on imported biofuels like sugar cane ethanol from Brazil. While McCain supports the development of next-generation biofuels and wants automakers to accelerate getting more flex-fuel vehicles on the market, he makes no mention whatever of distribution. While Brazil has encouraged ethanol and flex-fuel, the country has also mandated that fuel stations have to include ethanol pumps. The candidate also supports tax credits of up to $5,000 for purchasing plug-in vehicles and bigger fines for manufacturers that miss CAFE targets. To help reduce carbon emissions further and help support the use plug-ins, McCain wants to build 45 new nuclear plants over the next two decades. Offsetting this, McCain also wants to spend $2 billion a year for the next fifteen years on clean coal technology. Even if they can carbon capture on a large scale, McCain makes no mention of the environmental impact of current mining techniques like mountain top removal. Check out more at GFF.

[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

While Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain was visiting the GM Technical Center in Warren MI on Friday he reversed direction on carbon dioxide regulation. During a June campaign stop in Ohio, McCain declared that he favored national standards for carbon dioxide regulation. While McCain was in Michigan he expressed support for state level rules to limit emissions. While there is nothing wrong in general with with learning new information and adjusting a position on an issue, Republican campaigners have a history of criticizing opponents for doing precisely that including in a new ad that was revealed the same day. An aide to McCain later tried to say that McCain only supported state level standards until a federal cap and trade system for emissions credits was in place. If McCain really supports the limits that California and other states are trying to impose than he should be doing his job in the senate and introducing a similar federal standard.

[Source: Detroit News]

While it seems the public must wait until September to get a glimpse of the final production version of the Chevy Volt, GM is letting John McCain cut to the front of the line to take a good look at the architecture that the company hopes will propel them into the next decade. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was given a tour of the GM Design Center Dome at Warren, MI today where he later held a Town Hall meeting with hundreds of GM employees. We guess they're not holding that "Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back," line from the primaries against him.

McCain seems not to caved to the auto industry's wishes on national emissions standards on this visit. Though last month he told the Detroit News that he would like a national standard that would make state standards unnecessary, today he clarified his position by saying, "I guess at the end of the day, I support the states being able to do that,[set their own standards]." He also recounted his earlier ideas for helping the industry get its groove back by giving $5,000 tax credits to low-emission vehicle purchasers and, of course, his $300 million battery challenge.

[Source: Detroit Free Press / The Detroit News via GM-Volt.com]

Considering all of the press that has been inked (or typed) regarding both John McCain's and Barrack Obama's various plans for the ailing automotive industry in America, you may think that the two hopeful presidential candidates would be in tune with the plight of the average driver who fills his or her tank. Or not. It seems that Republican John McCain is not aware of how much a gallon of gas costs. In fact, he says, "I don't recall, and frankly, I don't see how it matters." We have no intention of pushing any sort of political agenda, and this writer in particular is not attempting to back either politician with this writing, but the question begs to be asked: how in the world could somebody living in the United States not know how much gas costs today? Every time the news is turned on or the internet is fired up, citizens are bombarded with constant reminders that gas has crested the $4 a gallon mark. It must take a really busy man to be completely unaware of the price of gasoline these days.

Update: McCain apparently knew the price of gas when he gave a speech on June 18. See here.

[Source: Auto Observer]

U.S. Presidential hopeful John McCain says he opposes the notion that individual states should be able to set their own carbon dioxide emissions regulations. Still, it sounds as if automakers could be in for a shocker if the Republican were to be elected, as he says, "My goal would be to see a federal standard that every state could embrace. I think we can achieve a status where that would go away." So, it sounds as if the target for CO₂ emissions could be set even lower than currently planned. McCain likely mimics the thoughts of the Detroit 3 as he says, "It's going to be hard, it's going to be long and it's going to be tough."

McCain appears to see the future of the American auto market as one made up of small, fuel efficient cars. His latest stop was at GM's Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant where the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 are built, a plant McCain sees as key to GM's successes. Still, the major players in the industry will be on their own, as McCain has no intention to offer any sort of bailout to any of the Detroit 3.

[Source: The Detroit News]

The two major U.S. presidential candidates, Barrack Obama and John McCain, have both expressed an interest in investing Federal money into green automotive technology. Although both men have differing ideas about what may be the best way to move forward, it's becoming clear that green automotive technology will be a point for debate as the election nears. This week, Obama visited with leading members of the Detroit automotive scene, including Rick Wagoner from General Motors and Alan Mulally from Ford, both of whom seemed pleased with how the dialogue went. When asked by Obama what he, as President, could do to help the ailing auto industry in the U.S., Wagoner responded by suggesting that the government contribute funds into the research and development of emerging technologies, such as automotive batteries. Maybe more than $30m, perhaps?

Assuming that the cost for new eco-friendly technology will be passed on to the consumer, Wagoner also suggested that the government make it easier to get into a new green car, which has been done to good effect with hybrid vehicles already. Obama, for his part, said he saw "surprising consensus" among the automotive industry representatives, so we'd imagine similar suggestions were heard all around.

Update: Fixed Rick Wagoner's name, thanks!

[Sources: The Detroit News, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

After serving large helpings of hope to the offshore drilling, "clean" coal, and nuclear power plant hungry crowd, John McCain is set to dish up some tasty dessert for famished clean car proponents. In a speech he will deliver today at Fresno State University in California, the presidential hopeful will lay out a series of proposals aimed at quickening the transformation to carbon-free transportation. The one that really caught our eye was his "Clean Car Challenge" that would award the not-insignificant amount of $300 million to the developer of new battery technology that has "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars," and do it at 30 percent of the cost of what is currently available. Quite a challenge indeed.

Another enticement on the menu is a $5,000 tax credit for every new zero-carbon car. He is expected to announce, "For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car," (The AP version of the story claims the credit is for auto-makers while Reuters says it's for the buyer) Other "if-elected" actions are said to include higher fines for non-compliance with CAFE standards and a speeding up the flex-fuel capability of the nations fleet. "Whether it takes a meeting with automakers during my first month in office, or my signature on an act of Congress, we will meet the goal of a swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil." It all sounds pretty good. Now, if he can just win that pesky election we'll see if he follows through.

[Source: Associated Press / Reuters UK]

Last night's NBC Republican presidential debate took an unexpected turn to the green. For almost half an hour, the candidates talked about alternatives to oil and ethanol. Senator Sam Brownback even talked about a flex-fuel, plug-in hybrid car. Sam went into specifics saying he would like to see an electric-only range of 20 to 30 miles on plug-in hybrids. You can watch the video of Sam talking about plug-in, flex fuels below the fold. Here is the quote:

"We've got to get more electricity involved in our car fleet. There's a Chevy Malibu parked out front here that's a hybrid flex fuel. They've got hybrid cars; they've got flex fuel cars. I think that's a big part of the answer. I'd like to see us move forward with getting those first 20 to 30 miles off of electricity that you plug into at night. That's technology. We're putting forward tax credits and incentives to try to move that forward. That's something Detroit here needs to grab on, and is. And that can move us forward as an industry and as a country."

As for ethanol, Ron Paul does not support subsidies and neither does John McCain even though he drinks a glass of ethanol daily. In one of the funnier moments of the night, Mike Huckabee said we have to increase the pace of our support for ethanol. All the ethanol plans, Mike says, are for 15, 20 years in the future. Mike thinks we can do it in less than a decade if we worked at it like a mission to the moon or (because Huckabee knows his audience) a Nascar pit stop. You can also watch that video below the fold. Here is the quote.

"We can't wait until another generation. Instead of running it like Nascar, we've been running it like taking the family station wagon in for letting Goober and Gomer take a look at it when they get time, under the shade tree."

So, is Bush Goober or Gomer?

[Source: Mother Jones, Wall Street Journal]

Presidential hopeful John McCain went to car-maker-city Detroit and told them they must support higher fuel efficiency standards. John says it's a national security issue and we must be leaders on green technology. John even joked he drinks a glass of ethanol every day. Here are some quotes:

• "We need to work together to increase CAFÉ standards to a level that is practical and achievable for all new vehicles."
• "My friends, it's a national security issue."
• "We can't keep up this level of gas guzzling."
• "I'm all for ethanol, I drink a glass of ethanol every morning."
• "We need to be at the cutting edge of green technologies because 95 percent of the world's customers live outside the U.S."

Recently, when John was asked what he has done on a personal level to fight global warming, he said he bought a Prius for his daughter. John had a little trouble pronouncing the word Prius however. Here are the quotes:

• "What's it called, a Purr-ess? Pryuss? Peer-uss?"
• "Yeah, Py-russ"
• "No, Prius."
• "O.K., Prius, Prius."
• "I ought to know the name of it; I paid for it."

In the past, John's been accused of flip-flopping his support for ethanol. Guess now he's settled his mind on the matter.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, New York Times]