Mr. Alternative Energy

Do you want solutions to the energy crisis in this country? Listen to former New York Governor George Pataki. 

This morning on Money for Breakfast the former governor laid out his plan for fixing the energy crisis in this country. He spoke very passionately about wind and solar power. He discussed the need for more refineries in the U.S. and the creation of nuclear power plants. He was as animated and energized as I've ever seen him. We spoke for ten minutes after we completed the interview. I have never seen him speak more enthusiastically about any other topic. I did not want him to leave. He was an expert on the alternative energy universe and how to create tax incentives to increase the roadmap and infrastructure in this country to take advantage of things like coal, wind and solar power. 

This isn't the first time he has passionately fought for alternative fuels or green initiatives. While governor of New York, he was at the forefront of renewable energy and climate change. He lead the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which was the FIRST carbon cap and trade program in the United States. He protected over one million acres of open land, implemented the nation's first green building tax credit and developed programs to produce and develop more alternative fuels. His work and dedication to this issue have been documented in many well known publications. He also happens to be a highly regarded member of the task force addressing climate change on the Council on Foreign Relations. A former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation during the Pataki administration said, "Pataki made renewable energy, alternative energy and climate change a central part of our administration - frankly, well before it was an "Inconvenient Truth." 

During the interview I jokingly said, "If McCain gets elected, I think you should be the secretary of energy." He laughed. Said he's done with the public sector and that he's having too much fun in the private sector. 

Frankly, I wouldn't count him out. He knows and understands the long-term problems with energy consumption and exploration and has a firm grasp on how this country can become energy independent. Whether he can accomplish it with this Congress or another one down the line will be an issue, but he has the best game plan that I've heard in months, if not years. Take a look.