1. primary system driven by electric motor, all EV mode whenever practical, min 30 km range

2. decked out solar panels all the way around to maximize recharge opportunities (preferred energy source). the tricky part here will be the balance between weight and energy generation.

3. plug-in capability (second preferred energy source)

4. reg gas engine as a last energy option (e.g. for long distance travel), prefer non-diesel for availability and emission reasons

5. affordable (very tricky to achieve)

Unfortunately, through November (and maybe beyond), the president has no political capital to lead public opinion and ‘our’ lawmakers through the wilderness to the promised land of a thoughtful energy policy.

Instead, I think it has more to do with the environment becoming a politically supercharged issue. Most mainstream media does not cover energy polices in detail because of pressures from major oil/gas sponsors and you see lobbyists kill any reform possible or have the ability to make a cap and trade politically risky. Oh also those stupid cable opinion networks also help dumb down energy polices including freaking people out about needed changes.

Obama’s energy policy (CAFE) came out of $4-5 gas prices and we can argue that it was not enough but unless another situation like that happens or a natural disaster occurs we will continue to be stuck not moving environmental policies forward.

What is funny about all this is despite the complaints about added prices, indirectly and often 10-20 years later all of us pay for subsidizing current fossil fuels.

In US political terms, that’s absolutely true. Health care and the debacle in Copenhagen mean there’s neither the will nor any external impetus for the US to come up with a proactive energy policy. More-of-the-same tactics that constitute an energy policyof sorts – ratchet up CAFE ’cause it’s easy and politically costless; keep oil + coal cheap by underwriting carbon exhausts; encourage nuclear expansion (but don’t solve waste storage – a political quagmire); and throw a few crumbs to wind and solar (call it a jobs program).

Environmentally, though, the climate keeps throwing small but increasingly noticeable extremes at us – DC snowstorms, floods in New England, 80 degree temps in April. March is wayyy too early for wildflowers and mayflies here in Michigan…. but they’re out.

Hopefully, after the November nuttiness subsides, “our” federal pols can refocus on doing some of the right things to reduce our carbon emissions. Position it as energy security (true!), if that’s what it takes politically.

Remember on the campaign trail when McCain and Obama’s energy policy statements were almost interchangeable? How do we get back to that happy place?

Nothing of any consequence will happen between now and November.

Refreshing is the clear stance on hybrids and electric vehicles. My concern is that drilling, bio-fuels, ethanol, & natural gas would be treated as equals to hybrids and EV’s. Anyways a good step forward and when $4-5 gasoline comes back our economy will be able to start absorbing energy prices through greater efficiencies in vehicle designs.