Jeff Merkley wants to invest in renewable energy. It's a common enough concept amongst progressives: preserve and protect our world today with the right tactics so it can be available for tomorrow's generation. Indeed, it just makes sense to not pollute the world and to invest in plans to stretch our resources through inventive, renewable means. Smart, green policy. Does lots.

But what does that mean in terms of numbers? I've read lots of numbers in a lot of places, and I can never seem to keep a specific plan stuck in my mind. For all the consensus on certain aspects of what we need to do, there's not be a specific, codified plan across our battle line. Has there? I'm not missing it, right?

Today, Jeff Merkley came out with his plan. He begins by touting credentials:

Today, I'm going to discuss the first part of my four point plan: make historic investments in renewable energy.

As Speaker of the Oregon House, I delivered on my promise to make Oregon a national leader in the transition to renewable energy sources. Our dependence on foreign oil has become an albatross that is undermining America's foreign policy and national security, weakening our own economy, and contributing to climate change.

Right on! Now what can we do about it?

As the next U.S. Senator for Oregon my priorities will include:

*Setting a 25% renewable energy standard by 2025. Under my leadership, Oregon adopted this 25% standard - one of the highest in the nation. I will push to make this the national standard. By adopting this new standard we will pump billions of dollars into investments in clean energy sources such as wind, solar and bio fuels. We can fund these investments by closing tax loopholes that currently give our tax dollars to big oil companies and redirect these funds back into our economy, creating thousands of jobs. Congressional Republicans are working day and night to eliminate these standards from the energy bill. As Oregon's next U.S. Senator, I will fight to keep this from happening.

*I strongly support increasing the fuel economy standards for cars driven in the United States to thirty five miles per gallon. This will save consumers money at the pump and reduce emissions that cause global warming. In her "Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act", Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington calls for a 35 mpg fuel economy standard by 2017. As Oregon's next U.S. Senator, I'll work with Senator Cantwell to include these standards in America's energy policy.

It's not a be-all or end-all, but it's a nice start. 2025 seems so far away, but I guess we have to start somewhere. And if Oregon can do it, then surely we can make it work in other places. I like that he attempts to pin down one of the funding sources, but I'd like to learn more about how we can ensure full funding for any environmental policy that gets a go-ahead. Perhaps we can end the war? There, that sounds good. That does cost a terrible amount of money, which could be going to education, the environment, or myriad other necessary projects.

As for the MPG fix, that's also nice. It'll be a fun fight with certain lobbies, to be sure. Furthermore, I'd like to know more about capping carbon emissions and other fun environmental ideas. But we'll get that later, I imagine.

On the whole, I guess I still feel in a little bit of a stupor due to our current administration. Ever since the pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol, it seems like one terrible blur. But, with a greater Democratic majority and a (gasp) Democratic President, perhaps we can get an environmental policy back on track. In that light, what do I want? After listening to Al Gore and others (scientists, etc.) speak passionately on the topic, I just want to make sure our environmental policy is as respective and responsive as it can be. I'm not an environmental policy expert, but I'm studying hard in light of the problems we may face in the future and the responses we must push forward.

That's where I'd like to pass it off to you. What do you think of Jeff's initial ideas? I appreciate that he has a record to run on, and he's claims a willingness to dig in and do good work for us in the Senate. I trust in his words that he'll be an effective, passionate advocate for environmental policy.

In that light, please visit his website to learn more about him or to sign on to his renewable energy plan.

At the same time, are there other aspects of an energy and environmental policy that you'd like to see enacted? Are there other plans out there that you'd like to compare and contrast? By all means, please share!

Oh, and by the way, is there any way to get a more unified energy plan? Are numbers somewhat flexible, as long as the right policies are getting air time?