Al Gore: Energy Crisis Can Be Fixed

Says Situation Is Dire, But Not Irreversible If Americans Start Rigorous Green Plan Now

(CBS)  Former vice president Al Gore laid down a green gauntlet Thursday, challenging the nation to produce all our electricity from renewable sources, such as wind mills and solar panels - and do it within a decade. In Washington CBS News anchor Katie Couric spoke one-on-one with Gore, whose environmental work earned him a Nobel Prize.

What follows is a full transcript of the interview.

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Couric: All right, Vice-President Gore, let me just ask you about this challenge you've put forth today. And to briefly explain what prompted you to do this, why?

Gore: We've got to end our dependence on oil and coal. They're rising rapidly in price. That's why gasoline prices are going up, and that's why electricity rates are going up. But the new demand for oil and coal from China and these other fast-growing countries means that the only way we're going to escape the rising prices, and the dependence on foreign sources is by switching to renewable sources.

And now that … the coal and oil's gone up so high and the engineers have brought down the cost of solar and wind and geothermal. Now it's competitive. And if we make a big commitment to take all of our electricity over to renewable sources, then the cost will come down more quickly. We'll have less pollution, lower cost … and a better national security guarantee.

Couric: Don't we get a lot of our electricity from natural gas as well?

Gore: Well, some. Most of it comes from coal. Some of it from nuclear, from hydro. A lot of it, some from natural gas and some of the new units built in the last few years have come from natural gas. Natural gas … is a little bit cleaner than oil and much cleaner than coal. But we, over the, and this is a transition fuel. But in the longer-term, we really should switch to solar … and geo-thermal and wind energy.

Couric: Do you think clean coal is an oxymoron?

Gore: There's no such thing as clean coal. It's non-existent. Theoretically, it might be possible, many years from now, to come up with a way to clean it as it's burnt. But there's not a single demonstration project in the United States. They're not doing anything … to put substance … to the slogan, "clean coal." Clean coal doesn't exist.

Couric: Doesn't it take as much energy to produce it as it would to burn coal? I mean, isn't that the argument against it, the whole process is, I mean, we're not gonna get into great detail here. But, is, that's my understanding, anyway.

Gore: One of the reasons they have been slow to install these systems for capturing the CO2 when the coal is burnt is that it's expensive. But with more work and some point in the future, after that work is done, it may be possible. But the burden should be on those who are burning it to show that it can be clean. It's not now. And just to say it's clean, that's deceptive.

Couric: You've set a 10-year deadline. Is that realistic?

Gore: I think it is, because there's some challenges - think of the Apollo program, the interstate highway system - there's some challenges that are really important to the future of the country, that can't be done in a single year or two years. But setting a 40-year goal, that's, you know, nobody takes that seriously. Ten years is about the limit of what we can stay focused on and … can sustain a really sizeable national commitment. An awful lot's at stake, Katie, because the scientists are telling us that we have less than 10 years to begin massive reductions in global warming solutions, or else this climate crisis might not be retrievable. It is retrievable and solvable, if we start now on a bold program.

Couric: You talk about solar farms in the desert, wind farms in the plains, a totally new electrical grid will have to be built. Your own group says, Vice President Gore, it will cost between $1.5 and $3 trillion.

Gore: That's private investment, as well as public investment. And it is…

Couric: That's a lot of money, no matter how you cut it, right?

Gore: It is. It's almost as much as the cost of the Iraq War. And it's almost as much as we would have to pay to go out and build new coal plants and new oil-drilling rigs in order … to get the energies that way. We're going to make investments in new energy supply. If we choose to do it with renewable energy, it will cost money.

But once we built it, the fuel is free. The sunshine and the wind … are here. China can't bid up the price. It's not gonna run out. So we need to switch to a new system that doesn't pollute, that won't be disrupted by some war in the Persian Gulf, and that will steadily come down in price as we make a bigger commitment to it.

Couric: Do you think the political will is there to change the way we do business so dramatically in this country?

Gore: I think we're getting there. I don't think it's there on Capitol Hill. I don't think it's there in the White House. I think it's beginning to build pretty steadily among the American people. People are really hurt by these high gasoline prices. And people have caught on, after 35 years, to the fact that simply producing more oil does not bring down the price of gasoline.

Hasn't in the past, won't in the future, because these new growing economies in China and elsewhere … are bidding up the price of oil, and so gasoline prices … we've got to break free of this limited supply of dirty fuels. And shift over to a source of energy that's based on fuel that's free. And equipment that's high technology and is steadily coming down in price.

Couric: What about nuclear power? I ask, what about nuclear power, because countries like France get something like 75-to-80 percent of their power from nuclear.

Gore: France is unique. It's a special case. We have a lot of nuclear plants in the U.S., and … I'm not anti-nuclear. I'm a little skeptical that's it's gonna play a much bigger role than it does now. I think it'll continue to play a role. But the problems with nuclear are it's very expensive. It takes a long time to build. And these nuclear plants only come in one size, extra large.

And utilities don't want to commit all that money for 15 years to get a plant that's rising in cost. And of course the fuel also has some problems, because if it gets out to other countries that can't be trusted, it feeds the problem of proliferating nuclear weapons.

Couric: Do you also worry about nuclear plants being potential targets for terrorists?

Yes, I myself, I don't think of that as a bar to nuclear power, because there are a lot of things that are potential targets, and we need to equip ourselves … to protect them. It's one of the problems, for sure, the nuclear waste storage issue is one of the problems. But I think the bigger problems are the cost, the long time for construction, and also the problem that if other countries make a massive commitment to it, we make the problem of nuclear weapons proliferation worse.

Let's talk about T. Boone Pickens. I recently talked to T. Boone about his whole idea of wind power, along this wind corridor, in the central part of the United States. What do you think of that?

Gore: He's obviously a very smart guy. He's been very successful. And I'm impressed that, after such a long and successful career in the oil business … he's done the numbers and figured out that huge investments in windmills are gonna make him money and help the country. So I think that he has a lot of credibility. When he says, "We can't drill our way out of this," he knows what he's talking about, and that we should go to renewable sources.

Couric: What do you think of his notion … replace the electricity we get from natural gas with wind power, use that natural gas to power automobiles.

Gore: Yeah. Some people see that as kind of a shell game. I think it's a respectable idea. I would prefer to take our cars and trucks and move directly to electric vehicles, and not take the intermediate step of trying to equip them to use natural gas. But … he has the same basic idea of shifting away from oil and coal, not better overly heavy on nuclear, but instead making massive investments in renewable energy.

That's the keystone of his plan. Andy Grove at Intel has a similar plan. So a lot of our senior business leaders are telling us, these are not normal times. We cannot continue to bring in 70 percent of all of our oil from overseas, and keep seeing the price … and keep doing it while the price goes up and up.

Couric: Which must be gratifying for you, to have these Republican business leaders saying, you know, "we want to jump on this bandwagon. We have to."

Gore: Well, yes. I've long argued… that this should not be a partisan issue. And I'm gratified that a lot of people, regardless of political party, are looking at the facts and saying, "Yes, it's time to move in a big way." And the reason I put out this strategic goal of shifting all of our electricity generation over a 10-year period to renewable sources, and if they can capture and safely store the carbon from fossil fuels, that can be a part of it. But we can't count on that. We need … to shift over to renewable energy.

Couric: You know, I don't remember exactly all the factors, but some critics say, you know, solar and wind is the not the panacea some people think. It's very expensive. Usually in the summer months, there's less wind, when people need more electricity. I sort of read some reality check on these alternative energy sources. Do you think you're putting too much stock in these, as a panacea for our energy problem?

Gore: Not at all, because the older conception about solar power and wind power are giving way to the new developments that these scientists … and engineers have come up with, because the price of oil and coal have been going up so much, there have been, there's been a lot of investment in getting better ways to convert solar energy into electricity and wind into electricity. That cost has been coming down, while the oil and coal has continued to go up. It's now right at the point where it's competitive.

And it's true that wind power comes and goes with the wind. But the solar plan, that are in the desert areas where the sun's almost always shining, they're pretty steady. And the production actually matches … the times of day when we need the most electricity. And the steadiness of that solar power can even out the peaks and valleys of the wind. And if you do 'em both together, they fit like a hand in a glove.

Couric: I wanted to ask you about President Bush's press conference this week. It was interesting. Someone asked him, "Do you think Americans should sacrifice more?" He, in his press conference this week, President Bush said it would be presumptuous for him to ask the American people to sacrifice more to deal with this current, gas prices, et cetera. Do you think it's presumptuous to ask the American people to conserve?

Gore :Well, I have to warn you that I've recently begun to fear I'm losing my objectivity on President Bush.

Couric: I'm shocked.

Gore: So I'm gonna …you have to take it with a grain of salt.

[actornaught]

No species survives that destroys it''s own habitat.

Ever.

There''s every reason for the US to be able to create a vibrant economy based at least in part on our generating our own power sources all the way down to the consumer level. We''re more than capable of it. Our only weakness is the 9% to 30% (depending on how you want to look at rushbots & cons) that is ignorant and ugly about letting the free market move in that direction.

[libsluv2spit]

the question is:

"how green is al gore?"

lets check his wallet..

[soloman6]

People are so angry, did anyone realize we virtually destroy our own place that we all call home- the earth? It doesn''t matter your skin color, race, or political agenda, disasters have no sense of discrimination. We have to stop fighting with each other and agree that at least on one thing that we have in common is to make this planet a better home.

[chplraj]

Let''s see Al, have you given up on the limos and gas guzzling SUV''s yet? LOL

[libsluv2spi1]

RowdyWicca2 - gop crack ***!!

[libsluv2spi1]

al gore you''re the best!!

[ssashworth]

I live in the solar house (active and passive systems) I designed and built myself, twenty-five years ago, from reclaimed building materials (embodied energy). My electric bill a couple of months ago was $58.72 for 3000-ish square feet of living space, including all major appliances. I''ll be adding photovoltaics next to get rid of that last little bit and start sending electricity back to the service provider.

IT''S NOT HARD! The solution doesn''t have to be massive arrays of anything. YOU DON''T HAVE TO WAIT for the government to come and save you. Work with the water heater already in your home. Work with the BTU''s already being delivered FREE OF CHARGE to the roof of your house, the concrete of your patio, the grass in your yard!

Stephanie Scarborough Ashworth
Design&Environmental Analysis, llc
ssashworthatmsndotcom

PS: I''ll be installing the device, next, that lets me run my car on water. IT''S NOT HARD!

~SA

[noprejudice]

so angry. doubtful that the liberal stance in this country is the source of the anger.... ignorance, maybe, as that''s a tough one to handle.

[mtracy9]

We''''re closing in on one trillion dollars spent on the Bush/Cheney Haliburton oil wars. Imagine if that money had been spent on renewable energy, we could be be well on our way toward enery independence. Of course the fat pig *** Cheney/s oil stock would not have appreciated as much, but even he shouldn''''t whine. With Cheney''''s heart in the condition it''''s in this maggot will be dead in a couple years anyway, so all those millions he made off the oil wars will be for naught.

[rowdywicca2]

republicans destroying the earth! make more money!
gOp forever!!

[libh8er]

''Al Gore: Energy Crisis Can Be Fixed''

Too bad ALGore can''t be ''FIXED''

[lorinkundert]

Al Gore can help fix it by going away and thus reducing his carbon footprint by 245 households.

[fixhist]

"Al Gore left his fleet of gas guzzling moster vehicles idling outside while he preached to the nation about conserving. "

Why he should shut CO2 emissions?

What is your qualification?
What you will feed as food to green pastures in America?
CO2 down in America will turn all green to rubish,for now enough Bush beating has been done on Oil & Gas already.

[fixhist]

"Al Gore left his fleet of gas guzzling moster vehicles idling outside while he preached to the nation about conserving. "

Why he should shut CO2 emissions?

What is your qualification?
What you will feed as food to green pastures in America?
CO2 down in America will turn all green to rubis,for now enough Bush beeting has been done on Oil & Gas already.

[rowdywicca2]

there''s no such thing as global warming, what it''s snowing in los angeles? and the ice is melting in the north pole, thats nothing!!! you think the mental recession will help?

[kerrjac]

The reason why oil demand is up in developing nations is because they''re becoming more industrial. When the US economy started becoming industrial, we had the necessary oil to fuel the economy. It''s unfair to turn our back and now deny this resource to developing nations who need it to thrive - it''s not an abstract argument, their lives are at stake. Furthermore, global warming is an abstract theory with more holes than most people realize. Historically, pollution emited from cities in developing nations tends to increase as their economies are being kick-started, and then decrease and plateau when they hit a certain level of wealth.

[kerrjac]

The reason why oil demand is up in developing nations is because they''re becoming more industrial. When the US economy started becoming industrial, we had the necessary oil to fuel the economy. It''s unfair to turn our back and now deny this resource to developing nations who need it to thrive - it''s not an abstract argument, their lives are at stake. Furthermore, global warming is an abstract theory with more holes than most people realize. Historically, pollution emited from cities in developing nations tends to increase as their economies are being kick-started, and then decrease and plateau when they hit a certain level of wealth.

[BBernsten]

Al Gore is ahead of the curve!!!

Solar energy, wind power and electric vehicles are no longer an option, but a requirement for the American consumer.

A fundamental change in our driving habits is now required.

The Automobile Industry is going to be in the same position as the Airline Industry in the next few months. Unless we get away from gas combustion vehicles, including Hybrids, the automobile industry (as we know it) will die.We need to make drastic moves. America needs to move to ELECTRIC. The vehicles are not as fast, not always as fun to drive, but the move will save Americans money (Billions) and help bring change to our automotive companies. Let''s "Be Green"!!!!!!!!!!!! BG Automotive Group Ltd. has a car that will travel 80-100 miles per charge for $15,995. Finally a car that most Americans can afford. Did you know that 80% of all drivers, drive less than 50 miles per day? This new car will cost an equivalent of $0.20-0.25 cents/gallon (depending on electricity rates in your area). Why send $700 Billion per year to OPEC (now buying up U.S. companies) when we can use this money for our schools, health care, social security for all Americans, etc, etc, etc. We can make the difference if WE change.

[jongood65]

Al Gore left his fleet of gas guzzling moster vehicles idling outside while he preached to the nation about conserving. Bad Al Gore you might say, but I''m beginning to think he actually has it right. Given this, in concert with his 28,000 sq. ft. home with a carbon footprint the size of 100 average American homes gobbling fossil fuel.
Posted by JonGood65 at 12:09 PM : Jul 18, 2008

You can''t attack his ideas so you attack him. ...
Posted by jon2012 at 01:12 PM : Jul 18, 2008

Jon, had you not pulled the classic, left wing pinko, hyphenated-American Democrat job of selectively editing my post, it revealed how I was in fact agreeing with AlGore''s plan.

Grow up. Get a life.

[jongood65]

Al Gore left his fleet of gas guzzling moster vehicles idling outside while he preached to the nation about conserving. Bad Al Gore you might say, but I''m beginning to think he actually has it right. Given this, in concert with his 28,000 sq. ft. home with a carbon footprint the size of 100 average American homes gobbling fossil fuel.
Posted by JonGood65 at 12:09 PM : Jul 18, 2008

You can''t attack his ideas so you attack him. ...
Posted by jon2012 at 01:12 PM : Jul 18, 2008

Jon, had you not pulled the classic, left wing pinko, hyphenated-American Democrat job of selectively editing my post, it revealed how I was in fact agreeing with AlGore''s plan.

Grow up. Get a life.