McCain Has Plan to Make Government More Green

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McCain: Gov't Must Lead Path to Green Energy

Republican John McCain said Tuesday the federal government should practice the energy efficiency he preaches, pledging as president to switch official vehicles to green technologies and do the same for office buildings.

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Referring to a McCain statement Monday in which the senator from Arizona acknowledged that new offshore U.S. drilling would not affect oil prices for years, Obama said that the presumptive GOP nominee is focused on extolling the "psychological" benefits of drilling. He called McCain's proposed $300 million prize for a new electric car battery a "bounty" for "some rocket scientist to win."

Obama described the nation's current high gasoline prices as the product of "false promises and irresponsible policies" that have prevented new technology and energy sources from replacing fossil fuels. "For decades, John McCain has been part of this failure in Washington," Obama said.

The McCain campaign responded by saying that "Barack Obama has become the 'Dr. No' of energy, refusing to accept any idea that will contribute to solving America's energy crisis."

Outside groups yesterday praised both candidates for seeking to curb the government's carbon emissions.

Julia Bovey, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said municipal governments have made similar changes and cut back on their energy use as a result. "We have seen cities and towns across America make a point to start buying efficient cars and trucks, and it can really make a difference," she said. "There's no reason the federal government should continue to buy dinosaurs."

Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, said the government should pursue "a generic approach, meaning certain companies or favored individuals aren't getting huge windfalls."

"As the federal government tries to pursue strategies to make its operation more efficient, as long as you do it in a cost-efficient manner, you're helping lead the way," he said.