Seacoast NRG

The New Hampshire Primary is now just a month away, and while my endorsement likely will mean nothing, my vote–just like yours–could make a difference.  I am going to cast my ballot for Democrat Bill Richardson. 

Here’s why:

Relevant experience matters to me:  Richardson, born in the US but raised in Mexico, has spent his entire adult life in public service, starting as a Congressional staffer and researcher shortly after he received his Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.  “You don’t lead by announcing that you’re a leader. You lead by setting the best example.”–Bill RichardsonRichardson was elected to Congress from New Mexico in 1982 and served with distinction over several terms, making a name for himself as an emissary called upon to investigate and negotiate particularly urgent issues–among them the release of hostages–with some of the world’s most nefarious characters, in some of the world’s most troublesome areas, such as Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Angola and Burma.  This experience served him well in his appointment during the Clinton administration to the post of US Ambassador to the United Nations in 1997.  Richardson left that post when Clinton nominated him to become Secretary of Energy in late 1998.  During the electricity crisis in California, Richardson as DOE secretary became a hated figure at Enron–more evidence to me that he was doing something right.  After his tenure at Energy ended with the election of George Bush, Richardson was elected governor of New Mexico in 2002, and was re-elected in 2006 with almost 70% of the vote–including almost 40% of the Republican vote.  As governor of New Mexico, Richardson has partnered with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Western Governor’s Association to lead the development of plans for a new clean energy economy–plans developed, by the way, in an open and consensus-based process, and not in an “undisclosed location”, or with undisclosed participants.

Diplomacy and statecraft matter to me:  I’ve made no secret of my disdain for the current administration–and in particular, my disdain for the administration’s disdain for the hard work of statecraft.  “I have spent my whole life in diplomacy, working with people, solving problems, from the smallest local issues all the way up to international ones.”–Bill RichardsonRichardson is a tough-minded diplomat who knows the value of carrots and sticks, as he has demonstrated by his successful negotiations with despots and dictators.  More importantly, he knows that arrogance is neither an effective nor a sustainable strategy when conducting affairs of state.  He values investment and engagement over bullying, isolation, and unilateralism.  He knows personally many of the players on the world stage.  He has visited their countries, knows their concerns, and understands the impression the US carries in the world.  He also understands the role the US needs to take in the world–via engagement and diplomacy.  He knows the damage that we’ve done, to the environment, to our international relationships, and to our national reputation, by the continued efforts to resist change in energy policy, to deny and undermine climate science, and the tortured arguments made to justify, well, torture.

And yes, energy and climate change matter to me:  More than any other candidate, I think Richardson understands the issues of energy and climate change, and he sees them as challenging opportunities–perhaps the challenging opportunities of our age–that we must accept and squarely face.  “Morally speaking, oil undermines America’s leadership role in the world…the world sees the inconsistency when the United States preaches freedom and human rights, and then purchases oil from or protects tyrannical dictatorships.”–Bill RichardsonRichardson understands that the need for energy in this country, and the crushing energy demands of the emerging economies in Asia, are at the root of many of the other problems we face, including that of our own security.  He has, in fact, just written a book (Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution) devoted to that very topic.  Richardson’s thesis is that when our country continues to spend billions on imports, security and materiel in supporting regimes that are unfriendly to us, while they use their newfound wealth to continue the suppression of human rights, then the oil that we get in exchange cannot be called cheap.  The world meanwhile watches us, with growing distrust and loss of respect, as we try to explain and justify our motives.  In continuing to seek cheap and plentiful oil, we are not, in fact, guarding our national interests; nor are we protecting, in Richardson’s words, “fairness, freedom and civil government within and among nations.”  Addressing energy, climate change and overall sustainability, Richardson argues, are the means by which the US can again be seen as a leader in the world’s community.  And the costs will be cheap compared to the billions spent each year to secure oil. 

How then to set that example?  Richardson establishes 5 goals, which he hopes to achieve with market-based initiatives, but with an agenda and incentives set by the federal government (these are directly from Richardson’s book):

1. Reduce oil dependence by as much as 50% by 2020
   • Promote plug-in car technologies, fuel-switching to electricity from oil (most oil imports today are used for transportation fuels).
   • Increase fuel-economy standards for conventional cars to 50 mpg.
   • Reduce the carbon impact of liquid fuels.
   • Promote smart growth for cities and transportation.
2. Promote efficiency and renewables in our electricity and natural gas markets.
   • Attain 30% renewable electricity by 2020, investing in generation and transmission infrastructure.“No nation is better positioned than the United States–if we are able to break our oil dependence–to lead the world to peaceful resolution of energy tensions and the protection of the global climate. No one else can cut through the chaos and confusion as we can. Diplomacy is the key.”–Bill Richardson
   • Improve energy efficiency by 20 percent.
   • Require carbon-clean investments for new power generation.
3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020, 50% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
   • Implement a market-based cap and tradesystem to reduce carbon emissions by utilities and industry.
4. Nurture and invest in science and technology.
   • Invest in a new energy and climate trust fund.
   • Fund energy and climate research at universities and agencies.
5. Lead by example.
   • Negotiate for mandatory international emissions limits.
   • Invigorate and motivate the North American Energy Council.
   • Finance developing nations to adopt low-carbon technologies and options.
   • Work to stabilize the defense of international oil and gas transportation routes.

Voting matters, too:  Now you know why I’m voting for Richardson, a decision that I do not make lightly.   Others have given their endorsements as well, including these members of the New Hampshire state legislature, and current Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand.

Be sure to vote!