The Chevy Volt – John McCain's New Best Friend
July 21, 2008
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Despite being a late comer on the need for the nation to cut its carbon footprint, John McCain is throwing his full weight behind fighting global warming and is using the Chevy Volt front and center.
Speaking to a crowd of 500 GM employees on Friday, McCain said “The eyes of the world are now on the Volt. It’s the future of America and the world.”
At a time when every major auto manufacturer in the world are proposing electric cars that will let drivers reduce their carbon footprint, McCain’s support for the Volt seems to be driven by politics more than just a little bit. McCain claims to believe that American cars that are fuel efficient will help stop global warming and provide a huge boost to the ailing auto industry. This stance will no doubt help him secure votes in key swing states like Michigan that are heavily reliant on the auto industry for their local economy.
But McCain has also introduced some proposals that are not directed as clearly at American companies. A proposed $5000 tax credit for zero emissions cars and smaller subsidies based on how fuel efficient a vehicle is, will certainly help cars like the Chevy Volt, but will also benefit foreign manufacturers, many of whom have more fuel efficient models on the roads today.
Another recent proposal, a $300 million prize for the company that provides improves battery technology for car engines, is open to companies from anywhere, though McCain must have his fingers crossed that the new technology comes form Detroit or Silicon Valley.
Cynicism aside, it is still encouraging to see McCain touting clean cars that will help American’s cut their carbon footprint, no matter what his motivation may be. And for every announcement or proposal McCain makes, Obama must politically retort with an idea of his own, keeping the issue of global warming at the heart of the debate. No matter who wins in November, it looks like we can expect some significant moves to help us all lower our carbon footprint.
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