John Edwards proposed a ban on the construction of coal plants that cannot capture carbon and commit to safe storage of carbon dioxide during a press conference on March 26 in the San Francisco Palace Hotel. He also discussed topics including his wife's struggle against breast cancer, healthcare, and immigration.
Following last week's announcement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050, Edwards provided more details of his plan. "The new addition which I will announce today is a ban on coal fire power plants that lacks the technology needed to capture their carbon dioxide emissions. We don't want to create, I think, about 150 of these power plants. What we don't want to do is to continue to accelerate American's contribution to the problem of the greenhouse gas."
The former senator said coal gasification, a precursor to carbon capture technology, is already in operation to capture the emission of carbon dioxide. If we "eliminate the subsidy and tax break for coal companies" as well as other measures, Edwards said the U.S. will be able to invest in technology that will "transform the way we use energy."
While the subject of his talk was energy efficiency, Edwards was questioned many times on his wife's situation. In a news conference last Thursday, Edwards and his wife Elizabeth announced that breast cancer discovered in the final weeks of the 2004 presidential campaign had returned, spread to her bones, and is now considered incurable.
"I miss her," Edwards said, wearing a yellow "Livestrong" Lance Armstrong wristband. "She was with me until yesterday and we've been together basically nonstop since last Wednesday, when we went to the hospital together."
The Edwards are committed to the presidential campaign. "We love our country so much, and we want to serve our country." When asked how the news will affect his campaign, he said that it is "very difficult to give answers," and that Americans will evaluate the candidates based on "integrity and personal characters of leadership."
On immigration, Edwards said: "I do believe the 12 million people who live here deserve to earn American citizenship. I don't think we should have second class citizens." Edwards wants illegal immigrants to pay a penalty and learn English.
Edwards also talked about his universal health care plan financed largely by rolling back the tax cuts President Bush has provided for people making more than $200,000 a year.
Public opinion polls have consistently placed Edwards behind Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama of Illinois in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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