“First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of transitioning from a carbon economy and returning safety to the earth. No single project in this period will be more impressive to humanity, or more important for the long-term security of our country and our planet; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish, but the cost of inaction would be chaos`. We propose to accelerate the development of the appropriate alternative energies. We propose to develop market incentives, much stronger than any now being considered, promoting a strong mix of technologies. We propose additional funds for other technology development and for expanded implementation–implementation which is particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never overlook: the survival of the the planet and the strengthening of the country that first makes this daring change. But in a very real sense, it will not be one country changing its economy–if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be the entire world. For all of us must work to make this real.”

Not only will this help prevent the worst effects of global warming, return our country to a state of technological dominance, create jobs, clean our air, prevent the destruction and polution caused by oil and coal mining and transport, it will empty the coffers of those the conservatives are so worried about — in Venezuela, the Middle East, and Russia.

“More than 1,000 coal-fed power plants will be built in the next five years, mostly in China and India, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. China, the world’s biggest coal producer, became a net importer for the first time this year, taking supplies from Indonesia, Australia and South Africa and reducing the amount available for Europe.”

And what are the results of this?

“U.S. coal exports to Europe for the first nine months of this year were 11.4 million tons, up 15 percent from the same period in 2006, according to the U.S. Energy Department.”

” U.S. coal exports have increased 37 percent this year and will continue to climb because of record global demand and a weaker dollar, analysts and executives say.

Port operator Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, a U.S. pipeline operator, plans to expand its capacity to handle more coal as China, the world’s largest producer, becomes a net importer and Australian exports are delayed.”

A new market for American coal. More jobs for Americans. I’m not seeing the downside here.