The marathon race for the White House is down to less than three months. With energy prices and independence making headlines, the two remaining candidates are refining their energy policies.

Last night, campaign advisers for Senators McCain and Obama spoke at the Marines' Memorial Club in San Francisco about their candidates' positions on energy policy. Tim Carmichael, a Senior Campaign Adviser for Obama, and Kurt Yeager, California co-chair of the McCain Energy Coalition spoke to the audience from prepared statements, then respectfully sparred during a moderated question and answer period.

While at first glance it may seem that there are strong similarities in both candidates' energy plans, the discussion brought glaring differences to light.

The belief that our nation is in the midst of a crippling energy crisis is upheld by both camps. A cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is mutually supported, as is the need for a more diverse energy portfolio that includes renewables. Both candidates espouse a desire to help emerging economies around the world embrace clean energy, lest they follow our polluting path.

However, the candidates' energy policies diverged on several points:

Electric Vehicle Tax Credits

Carmichael spoke for Obama in proposing a $7,000 tax credit on the purchase of hybrid electric vehicles. Obama wants to put one million hybrids on the road in the next five years to help reduce our dependence on petroleum. He also stated the need for better community planning to facilitate increases in public transportation, walking, and bicycling.

For McCain, Yeager cited a similar idea: a $5,000 tax credit towards the purchase of a zero carbon emissions car. However, Yeager acknowledged that this type of car currently doesn't exist, and may not be available from foreign and domestic manufacturers until 2011. These autos will reform American transport, he says. In combination with a smart grid and energy producing homes, Americans will have a chance to be producers of energy, according to Yeager.

Offshore Drilling

Yeager said that the Congressional ban should be ended and with the state's agreement, enable drilling 50+ miles off the coast. He also says McCain is in favor of domestic oil exploration to eliminate the $700 billion annual trade deficit. Carmichael says Obama is not a fan, and that it would not change our energy supply. However, if it becomes part of a national energy compromise, he feels he should support it.

Nuclear Power

Carmichael stated that 70% of our non-carbon emitting energy comes from nuclear power plants, and that it would be difficult to achieve emissions reductions without continued use of nuclear power. However, he lists several concerns before expansion of nuclear power: safety, waste disposal, proliferation issues, and high cost. Obama does not support Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste disposal site.

Yeager says McCain is very much in support of nuclear power as part of a diverse energy portfolio, not only for the US, but the entire globe. "The 21st century will require considerable use of nuclear power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions... there's nothing inherently problematic in doing this." He spoke about the need for advancements in nuclear technology that would increase efficiency, and he supports Yucca Mountain. Yeager said that Yucca Mountain was previously used for underground nuclear bomb testing (in which he was involved many years ago), so the military has already contaminated it beyond the impact of adding nuclear waste storage.

Expanding Renewables

Yeager stated that solar is the way to go, and that the future of renewable energy is not in wind. However, he pointed out that the intermittent nature of solar power creates the need for backup energy plants like nuclear and natural gas, as well as a smart grid. While he seemed to agree that solar is a crucial part of a diverse energy portfolio, he did not say how McCain would speed up the movement of solar to market, as was asked.

Carmichael reiterated Obama's campaign pledge of $150 billion over the next 10 years in partnership with private venture capital to kick start the clean energy sector. He said Obama would extend the renewable energy production tax credit (due to expire at the end of 2008) by 5 years to increase investment. Obama has a strong belief in federal government leadership, wanting to green old federal buildings and ensure all new federal buildings are zero carbon emissions by 2025.

Smart Grid Power System

Yeager spoke heavily in his opening statement about the need for an updated grid that would incorporate individual renewable energy. He argued that technological advancements, including plug-in hybrids, necessitate the implementation of a smart grid; companies are prepared today to bring forth the technology and capital needed. He says McCain wants "users large and small" to be both "consumers and producers."

Carmichael was not asked to comment on this topic, but in his opening speech, he stated that individuals, businesses, and the government can't "do it all" on their own; the effort must be a combination of responsibility amongst the three sectors. Additionally, he says Obama wants to weatherize one million homes annually, improving existing structures for energy efficiency.

When asked to describe what better qualifies their candidate to be president than his competitor, two familiar points popped up. Yeager described McCain's lengthy experience in government, stating that he's "had a front row seat to witness the failures of this administration" and is in the best position to apply lessons learned. McCain, he argued, has a clear understanding of the relative roles of government and the private sector. He has seen Washington fail in trying to control markets, and states that government must facilitate the role of entrepreneurial leadership, but not attempt to solve the problem itself. I ask, if you've been unable to use your senior senator influence to rally your party for change in these times of failure (and recent Republican dominance), how would the presidency be any different?

Carmichael cited Obama's ability to inspire both individuals and the masses to want to make changes and become better as a society. He says that Obama has grabbed the country with an uncommon energy in recent years. If we believe in making these changes -- and quickly -- this inspiration and energy is critical.

Listening to these and many more arguments, I got a good snapshot of the two candidates' plans. Carmichael (who was much younger than his counterpart, reflective of their candidates' ages) spoke with more respect to environmental issues, for example saying that Obama supports cap-and-trade, but will consider taxing carbon emissions if that is not effective. For Yeager, the focus on energy centered on reducing cost for Americans, rather than on environmental considerations. To me, these points are indicative of how each candidate would govern, as well as what truly weighs heavily on their minds.

Yeager drove home the point that McCain wants to open the markets to competition, letting innovation in the private sector lead advancement; while I understand the intent, the world has seen many instances where private leadership does not produce the best results. Obama's vision has the federal government taking a strong lead through partnership of private and government sectors towards energy reform; to me, this would be most successful in achieving a sustainable energy path. A little positive leadership in renewable energy from our next administration would have remarkable reflections in the world forum.

Questions or comments? Kristen Lee welcomes your feedback and is happy to provide additional information from the event not covered in this article.