When it comes to a coherent energy policy neither candidate has really levelled with the US public about what is facing them in the future. Most of the debate is couched in terms of “energy security” – about the need for America to wean itself off Middle Eastern oil.

There are some generalised promises from both sides about efficiency standards for vehicles, investment in renewables and biofuels – which was a big component of the US answer to energy security and climate change – until food prices started spiralling upwards, thanks to the policy of turning corn into fuel. But there is almost no talk about demand management, conservation and making lifestyle changes, which will be essential if America is going to have any chance of meeting either candidate’s promises of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Obama makes a big deal about how he unveiled his new fuel efficiency standards for vehicles in Detroit in front of the car makers “and the room went really quiet”. What he does not say is that Americans are going to need to make personal changes too, including moving to smaller cars, more public transport and a much bigger commitment to energy efficiency.

Obama’s energy policy promises to tackle building codes and to mandate low-energy lightbulbs throughout America by 2014, to save 88 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year.    This idea is not that good either,read my posts on the new light bulbs.  They also will be a ticking time bomb that will bite the world in the butt.

But what he is not telling the people is that his plan for a carbon price to make renewables more competitive and to subsidise their development is going to see electricity costs rise sharply. The other part of the energy equation that is still a sleeper is nuclear power. Obama and McCain say they will allow new nuclear reactors to be built. Neither is saying where.

The big difference between them is that McCain has said he will proceed with plans to store nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, a repository that has been 10 years in the approval process.

Obama, who is hoping to win Nevada, has ruled out storing waste in Yucca Mountain, instead offering “to lead federal efforts to look for a safe long-term disposal solution”.

Meanwhile, McCain’s buses bearing the slogan Straight Talk Express and Obama’s with Change We Can Believe In rumble through America. The candidates are not levelling with the public, while the energy industry continues to paint a sunny picture of the future.

America’s coal industry is running a campaign promising “clean coal, America’s future”; the petroleum industry promises blue skies with its cleaner diesel fuels for trucks, and the energy companies insist that they are doing their bit on renewables.

Just thought I would let you know just what you will be getting if either candidate is elected.