New York, September 24, 2008– Mr. Gore’s attack on coal was clear and forceful. “Clean coal is like healthy cigarettes – it does not exist,” he said. But Gore also added that if we can sequester coal, than okay. But since the technology does not exist right now, we shouldn’t be pretending it is a solution.

Addressing attendees at the Clinton Global Initiative, Gore called on the young people in the United States to reject new coal-fired power plants. “It’s time for civil disobedience to stop the construction of new coal plants,” implored the former Vice-President.

After introductory remarks by former President Bill Clinton, Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg, and cyclist Lance Armstrong, Al Gore launched a familiar-sounding polemic against carbon-based fuels with an intensified focus on the dishonest – and perhaps illegal – actions of the “carbon lobby.” Al Gore joined the discussion begun by the high-profile collection of heads of state, corporate leaders, and one very well-behaved rockstar/activist.

Joining Clinton on stage was former Vice-President Al Gore; the Queen of Jordan Rania Al-Abdullah; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola, E. Neville Isdell; the President of Liberia, Ellent Johnson-Sirleaf, and Bono.

Gore takes on big carbon

Gore said for the carbon lobby to be trying to convince their stockholders that renewable energy is risky business and that climate change is a hoax, they are purporting a type of stock fraud that should be addressed by attorneys general across the country.

In terms of the regulatory and legislative actions that would move us towards de-carbonizing our energy infrastructure, Gore reiterated his support for a carbon tax that would move us away from an income tax. “Tax what we burn, not what we earn,” said Gore, to resounding applause.

When pushed by President Clinton to elaborate the quickest and most cost-effective way to utilize our vast renewable resources, Gore said that we need to start with expanding what he calls the “electranet.” A focus on expanding our renewable capacity would be centered on growing a smart grid – including an underground transmission infrastructure – that could and should be coupled with an expansion of this country’s lagging broadband infrastructure.

“This should be the number one infrastructure program in this country,” said Gore.

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Image credit: Tim Hurst