Pumped hydro is a highly viable storage technology, it overlaps nicely with the characteristics of Tesla’s existing battery technology, the Boring Company has high-speed tunneling equipment suitable for penstocks and there are a lot of excellent coal miners who could be repurposed close to home in the United States.
With Buttigieg surging, and CleanTechnica’s deep dives into the front runners (and Yang’s) plans completed, it’s time for the overview comparison, now with Mayor Pete added.
Pete Buttigieg’s climate action plan is not nearly as strong as Warren’s, and the lack of funding puts it close to the level of Biden’s at the bottom of the heap. The major saving grace is the price on carbon.
Of the DNC Presidential candidates, Harris and Warren have robust, salable climate plans. Biden’s is worst, Yang’s is interesting and Sanders’ is unsalable. With a couple of additions, Warren’s plan will be very supportable in 2020. If Biden is the candidate, major surgery will be required.
Warren’s new climate commitments add a trillion dollars, specific targets in some areas, and significant improvements on electrification, industry, and transportation. They improve the plan substantially.
BC’s climate action plans are excellent, but the province can’t go it alone. At 5 million people and $240 billion CAD in GDP, it’s too small.
Bernie Sanders’ electrification plan is excellent but depends on potentially dangerous authoritarian populism, his transportation plan is mostly about cars for less wealthy people, his land use plan is good, but military and industry don’t get nearly enough attention. Only about half of the $16.3 trillion can be tracked to things which actually reduce climate change.
Harris’ plan is the most inclusive of other politicians and the least arrogant about being about her.
