Kilroy unveils global warming, energy plan

League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski and Mary Jo Kilroy.: Politicker PhotoCOLUMBUS - Franklin County commissioner and 15th Congressional District candidate Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus) revealed the first part of her energy plan today as she received the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters.

Kilroy's plan today seeks to tackle global warming and create green-collar jobs to reinvigorate Ohio's economy. Specifically, the plan seeks to reduce U.S. carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade system, increasing energy efficiency with tax breaks and utilizing new sources of energy (such as biofuels and wind)

"I think it's so vital that we come together as a country to address these twin issues of energy and global warming," Kilroy said. "For too long congress has been gridlocked on global warming. Partisan divide has held up any meaningful movement to establish long-term energy security - a long term plan for the energy future for our country."

The center piece of Kilroy's global warming plan is a cap-and-trade system. A bill supporting such a system was rejected by Congress earlier this month. The system would have placed a cap on the amount of carbon emissions a producer may make, but allow emitters to trade government-sold allowances between one another so that a high carbon emitter may buy unused allowances from lower carbon emitters.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) voted against the cap-and-trade system because it didn't guarantee foreign competitors would be subject to the same emission limits, thus putting Ohio businesses at a disadvantage, according to Brown.

When asked what should be done in future legislation to make sure Ohio's economy isn't hurt, Kilroy said efforts must be made on trade law and international carbon-emitting countries.

"First of all we need to close trade loopholes to keep jobs from fleeing overseas," Kilroy said, adding that there is a danger some companies may move operations off shore to be exempt from a U.S. cap-and-trade system. Kilroy said that her plan would provide assistance to companies that retool to use less energy and emit less carbon, as well as worker retraining.

More broadly, Kilroy said foreign countries need to be convinced that limiting carbon emissions are in their interest as well.

"This current administration has shown it's totally unwilling to do that. We need a new occupant in the White House that will be able to talk to the other countries around the world, like I believe Barack Obama will do," Kilroy said, adding that India and China are going to look at the same increases in energy and extreme weather and realize the need to limit carbon emissions.

If elected, how can she make a difference as one of 435 members of the House?

"You make a difference by being a pragmatic person like I am; looking for points of agreement with people who maybe are on the other side of the isle, bringing them into the picture and addressing it; working with the entire Ohio delegation, Republican and Democrat, to get things done."

Mike Hartley, campaign manager for Kilroy's opponent, state Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) responded to her plan.

“Steve Stivers has offered comprehensive, common-sense solutions to stem skyrocketing energy prices. While Mary Jo Kilroy continues to offer more of the same rhetoric," Hartley said.

Kilroy's plan to tackle gas prices will be unveiled on Wednesday, July 2.