CLIMATE CHANGE OUTSIDE THE PARTISAN BOX

Sarah Palin, the surprise running mate choice of US Senator John
McCain is under pressure to support environment before drilling as the
Republican ticket prepares to push climate change as a central issue
in the race for the White House.

"Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies
while fighting for the development of new energy resources," stated
McCain.

Jim di Peso, Policy director of the advocacy group REP America said he
was "bowled over" by the news of Palin's selection as she was in favor
of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.

However, as McCain is opposed to drilling in the refuge, Palin would
"have to abide by his wishes," said di Peso. "The ensign doesn't get
to tell the admiral what to do."

The McCain-Palin ticket will get the climate change issue out of the
partisan box, asserted di Peso. " McCain has confronted issues that
most Republicans have shied away from. McCain is willing to treat the
issue of environmental protection on its merits as a serious concern."

Last week Palin signed a bill into law giving the state of Alaska
authority to award TransCanada Pipelines a license to build and
operate the $26 billion dollar 2, 000 km pipeline to transport natural
gas from the North Slope through Canada to the lower 48 states.

Another consortium, including BP, seeking pipeline rights was left out
of the deal. Palin's husband works for BP, formerly British Petroleum.

Palin became the first female governor of Alaska, the youngest, and
the first governor born after Alaska achieved statehood.

In 2003, Palin was appointed ethics commissioner of the Alaska Oil and
Gas Conservation Commission. She resigned the following year in
protest over what she called the "lack of ethics" of fellow Alaskan
Republican leaders, who ignored her complaints of legal violations and
conflicts of interest. She filed formal complaints against two
Republican officials, who both resigned.

Palin has announced plans to create a new sub-cabinet group of
advisors to address global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in Alaska, and proclaimed September as Energy Efficiency Month in
Alaska. The proclamation encourages Alaskans to lower their costs by
conserving and using energy more efficiently.

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