The Democratic Party's energy platform mirrors the proposals of the party's presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, emphasizing the development of alternative energy technologies and a leadership role in global efforts to combat global warming.
Offering few specifics, the platform is intended to be a large-scale blueprint that makes clear the party position that increased fossil fuel production is not the long-term answer to high gasoline prices or energy insecurity.
"We know that we can't drill our way to energy independence and so we must summon all of our ingenuity and legendary hard work and we must invest in research, development, and deployment of forms of renewable energy -- such as solar, wind, geothermal, as well as technologies to store energy through advanced batteries and clean up our coal plants," the platform says.
The party will formally approve the platform at its national convention in Denver later this month.
Among its more specific energy proposals, the platform calls for a 50 percent improvement in energy efficiency by businesses and government by 2030, providing 25 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025, and directing the federal government to vigorously investigate and prosecute oil-market manipulation.
In a separate section, the party promises to substantially reduce the country's energy dependence, saying it will become a "top priority" to reduce oil consumption by 35 percent by 2030.
On climate change, the party says it will move aggressively to implement domestic policies and lead global efforts to deal with the issue.
"Never again will we sit on the sidelines, or stand in the way of a collective action to tackle this global challenge," the platform says. "We will invest in efficient and clean technologies at home while using our assistance policies and export promotions to help developing countries curb deforestation and leapfrog the carbon-energy-intenstive stage of development."
The party will ask the biggest carbon-emitting nations to join a new Global Energy Forum to "lay the foundation for the next generation of climate protocols."
The platform also says Democrats will push for a market-based cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases, vowing it will "reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary to avoid catastrophic change."
The platform also briefly touches on several other energy and environment-related matters -- including nuclear power, U.S. EPA and the protection of federal lands.
Specifically, the platform seemingly articulates opposition to the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository in Nevada -- saying it will "protect Nevada."
And the party says it will support comprehensive restoration for the Great Lakes, Everglades and Chesapeake Bay, as well restore the "polluter pays" principle for cleaning up polluted sites.
On federal lands, the platform promises to "dramatically" expand investments in conserving and restoring forests, grasslands and wetlands; increase funding to combat wildfires; and open millions of acres of public land to hunting and fishing.
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