Obama cleantech policy gets free ride at Washington event

The Barack Obama for U.S. president campaign received a warm reception today at the Cleantech Forum XVIII in Washington D.C. in a town hall debate intended to feature representatives from both major political parties.

However, the high profile meeting on the subject of clean technologies was not staffed by the John McCain for president campaign, despite invitation by event organizers the Cleantech Group.

Provocative Democratic campaign assertions went relatively unchallenged, with Republican views only cautiously represented by investor Hank Habicht of SAIL Venture Partners, a representative of the Reagan and Bush administrations.

Upon an introduction by moderator John F. Harris, Editor-in-Chief of the Politico, Obama Energy and Environment Advisor Jason Grumet wasted no time getting to his soundbites.

"I think we are at a transformative moment. The question is, do we claim the future or do we cling to the past? Every President since Richard Nixon has stood up and said 'I'm for energy independence.' And every single year it's gotten worse. So I think it's time for imagination and bringing folks together."

"I was a much bigger fan of Senator McCain's energy department policy than candidate McCain's energy department policy," said Grumet, referring to his opponent's Lexington Project energy plan, which Grumet said he had just "read on the elevator" on his way to the panel.

"Regarding the McCain Lexington plan, there's just no 'there' there."

Grumet said, if elected, Barack Obama would make substantive changes at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"An Obama administration would move very swiftly on some key issues, like granting the California waiver [ed.: the EPA denial of California's request to impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles and other tailpipe toxics]. We've got some very well rested bureaucrats up the street," he said, referencing allegations of inaction by the EPA in the eight years of the recent Bush administration.

SAIL's Habicht resisted answering many specific points, but noted Republican candidate John McCain has long been a big proponent of the environment.

"I'm no expert, but I'm certainly familiar with Senator McCain and what he's done. He's spent a bunch of time, if not more time, than any other member of Congress learning about climate change and cap and trade approaches. He's a supporter of acid rain reduction, that sort of thing. He will come forward supporting cap and trade," said Habicht.

Both camps agreed that whatever administration shaped the future of America, its energy policy could not be single sized to fit all.

"We need a policy that's flexible enough to accommodate regional differences," said Habicht.

"Senator Obama is from Illinois, coal country, so he's sensitive to local coal issues," noted Grumet, who then, over the course of his comments on the topic, cautioned that future U.S. energy supplies and consumption patterns may not stay status quo.

"Every one of us is going to have to pay a bit more attention. You don't have to sacrifice, but you sure are going to have to pay more attention."

Attendees generally appeared to defer to Grumet's remarks, even breaking into partial applause upon his initial introduction as Obama's energy advisor. But at least one audience member, given the microphone, wasn't impressed with Obama's cleantech stance.

"He doesn't seem to have a sense of passion and understanding of these issues. He's waving his arms in ways that don't impress me at all."

The Washington D.C. Cleantech Forum concludes tomorrow.

Special bonus!

Obama energy advisor Jason Grumet, clearly an articulate subject matter expert, often used informal turns of phrases when beginning his comments. Normally reporters edit these out.

From the cutting room floor, for fun, unabridged Grumet from this afternoon:

• "Canadians are pretty intense about this stuff" - in response to a question from a reporter about Obama's stance on oil imported from Canadian tar sands
• "There's been an absolute wonk-out; I have 500 people working on this energy and environment team" - on the importance of cleantech to the Obama campaign
• "Other than hanging out with Barack..." - beginning a statement on how Grumet knows how sincere his candidate is on the importance of energy policy