On August 18th Seattle voters rejected a referendum that would have made Seattle the first city in the nation to tax shoppers 20 cents for each disposable paper or plastic bag they received from grocery or retail stores. City Council last year had approved the tax, but a petition effort forced the measure to appear before voters.

Eco-supporters hoped the fee would encourage residents to reuse plastic bags several times or to purchase reusable canvas bags, helping to keep paper & plastic out of the landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions all and all.

Ever wonder who are the richest green business people out there?  Well, the folks over at Earth First put together a list of the world’s richest green entrepreneurs. These self starters have amassed fortunes ranging from the low millions to an incredible $3.4 billion mostly from doing good deeds for the planet.

Top 25 Richest Green Entrepreneurs:

1. Cheung Yan, Nine Dragons Paper
2. Shi Zhengrong, Suntech Power
3. Peng Xiaofeng, LDK Solar
4. Frank Asbeck, SolarWorld
5. Rubens Ometto Silveira Mello, Cosan

6. Tulsi Tanti, Suzlon Energy
7. Roxanne Quimby, Burt’s Bees
8. Anita Roddick, The Body Shop
9. Kate Chappell, Tom’s of Maine
10. Tom Chappell, Tom’s of Maine

11. Captain Planet
12. Steve Demos, White Wave
13. Michael Skelly, Horizon Wind
14. Mike Gilliland, Wild Oats Market
15. Chuck Marcy, Horizon Organics

16. John Mackey, Whole Foods
17. Ryan Turner, Pacific Ethanol
18. Steve Hughes, Celestial Seasonings
19. Pedro Moura Costa, EcoSecurities
20. David Scaysbrook, Novera Energy

 
21. Bruce Khouri, Solar Integrated Technologies
22. Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farms
23. Burt Shavitz, Burt’s Bees
24. Ray Anderson, Interface Inc.
25. Neil Eckert, Climate Exchange

Where do the presidential candidates stand on nuclear energy?

Barack Obama:

Has said we should explore nuclear power as part of the energy mix, but has also said nuclear is not a great option because of problems with safety and storage and because it usually requires big government subsidies.

John McCain:

Calls for 45 new nuclear power plants to be built in the U.S. by 2030, ultimately increasing to 100 new plants. Calls for government support for the nuclear industry.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on coal?

Barack Obama:

Supports “clean coal.” Supports coal-to-liquid fuels if they emit 20% less carbon over their lifecycle than conventional fuels. Says he would use “whatever tools are necessary to stop new dirty coal plants from being built in America — including a ban on new traditional coal facilities.”

John McCain:

Supports “clean coal.” Proposes spending $2 billion a year to help develop clean-coal technologies.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on cap-and-trade program for greenhouse-gas emissions?

Barack Obama:

Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Would auction off 100% of emission credits, making polluters pay for the right to emit greenhouse gases.

John McCain:

Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 60% below 1990 levels by 2050. Would give away many emission credits at the start of his plan, though down the line he would phase in auctions of such credits. Would allow domestic and international offsets as a form of compliance.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on biofuels?

Barack Obama:

Calls for 60 billion gallons of “advanced biofuels” [PDF] like cellulosic ethanol to be produced in the U.S. each year by 2030. Proposes federal tax incentives and other inducements to help develop the advanced biofuels.

John McCain:

Supports increased use of biofuels, but has not offered specific targets. Opposes subsidies for ethanol.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on renewable energy?

Barack Obama:

Calls for getting 10% of U.S. electricity from renewables by 2012, and 25% by 2025. Proposes investing $150 billion over 10 years in renewables, advanced biofuels, efficiency, and other clean tech, and says this will help create 5 million green jobs.

John McCain:

Supports renewables, but has not offered specific targets.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on fuel-economy standards for automobiles?

Barack Obama:

Supports raising fuel-economy standards 4% — roughly one mile per gallon — each year. Proposes spending $4 billion to help U.S. automakers upgrade their plants to produce more efficient cars and trucks.

John McCain:

Says he would more effectively enforce existing fuel-economy standards. Said in 2007 that standards need to be raised, but has not offered specific targets.

Where do the presidential candidates stand on offshore drilling?

Barack Obama:

Generally opposes opening additional U.S. waters to offshore oil drilling, but says he would consider it as part of a comprehensive energy plan that includes incentives for renewable energy.

John McCain:

Calls for lifting the federal ban on offshore oil drilling in new areas. (Had opposed new offshore drilling until June 2008.)

Where does Sarah Palin stand on issues related to energy and the environment? Well the folks over at Grist put together this quick snapshot. Check it out..

• Opposed a statewide ballot initiative to prohibit or restrict new mining operations that could affect salmon in the state’s streams and rivers
• Has pushed to build a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope
• Got the state legislature to pass a bill to provide each Alaskan $1,200 to help with energy costs
• Sued the Interior Department over its decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species
• Has proposed eliminating Alaska’s gas tax
• Has pushed to open Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling
• Has created a committee to forge Alaska’s climate-change strategy, and has made Alaska an observer (but not a member) of the Western Climate Initiative
• Opposes a windfall profits tax on oil companies
• Was the ethics commissioner of the Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004
• Lifelong angler and hunter
• Husband is an oil production operator for BP on Alaska’s North Slope
• Started Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office, an oversight and maintenance agency for the state’s oil and gas equipment, facilities, and infrastructure
• Chairs the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate panel “that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment”
• Believes intelligent design should be taught along with evolution in science classes