Energy Security and Global Warming

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US energy demands are rising as the price of oil goes through the roof and foreign sources are increasingly uncertain. Canadian tar sands and domestic coal would provide energy security, but at the risk of increased global warming. Can renewables be developed in time? How high is the price of economic growth? Also, Treasury Secretary Paulson wants to rein in mortgage markets. On Reporter's Notebook, with the presidential nomination potentially at stake can Florida Democrats get it together?

Photo: Bill Reinert

Making News

Paulson Wants to Rein in Mortgage Markets ()

The President's Working Group on Financial Markets has blasted the mortgage industry for its role in the global credit crisis that began with sub-prime mortgages. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who chairs the Group, wants home-buyer protections and new rules industry-wide. Peter Gosselin is national economics correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.

Guests:

Peter Gosselin: National Economics Correspondent, Los Angeles Times

Main Topic

Energy Security versus Environmental Stability ()

Just over 15 months ago, OPEC was worried that the price of oil would drop below $50 a barrel. Now, it's $110. With record-high oil prices overseas supplies increasingly uncertain, Vice President Cheney is expected to ask Saudi Arabia next week to help push the price down by producing more from its massive reserves. In the interests of energy security, the United States is looking to tar sands in Canada and development of domestic coal. But both alternatives are devastating to the environment, creating some agonizing questions. Can the US have energy security at the same time it tries to cope with global warming? Can wind, solar and other renewables be developed in time, or will there be a trade-off between economic growth and environmental destruction? We look at some of the contradictions that result as the US gropes toward a coherent energy policy.

Download the PowerPoint presentation on tar sands

Guests:

Steve Mufson: Energy Correspondent, Washington Post
Ben Geman: Senior Reporter, Greenwire News Service
Luke Popovich: Spokesman for the National Mining Association
Jim Presswood: Energy Advocate, National Resources Defense Council
Bill Reinert: National Manager, Toyota's Advanced Technology Group

Reporter's Notebook

Florida Democratic Party Pushes Mail-in Primary ()

Florida Democrats violated National Party rules by holding their presidential primary on January 29, long before they were supposed to. The candidates refused to campaign, but their names were on the ballot and Hillary Clinton won more votes than Barack Obama. Although it didn't seem to matter then, with the nomination itself perhaps at stake, Florida's Democratic Party is proposing a re-vote, partly by mail. US Senator Bill Nelson has embraced the idea, but the state's nine Democratic Congress members are adamantly opposed. Something has to be done by June 3. William Gibson is the political writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Guests:

William E. Gibson: Political Writer, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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