Gore Pounds Pols on Energy Plan

Al Gore made his first appearance on Meet the Press since he sought the presidency 8 years ago, Politico reports, this time pushing his agenda as the nation's self-appointed energy czar. "My own best role is to try to bring about a sea change in public opinion" on environmental issues, he said, following a Thursday speech in which he called for a switch to 100% renewable energy sources by 2018. "Incremental baby steps are no longer responsible proposals."

It's “time for policymakers and candidates to say to the American people what they already know: Gimmicks are not going to work.” he told Tom Brokaw. As for financing his energy plans, Gore wants coal and oil companies—not the middle class—to bear the brunt of the cost, MSNBC reports. "Congress needs to tax what we burn, not what we earn," said the Nobel laureate. (More Al Gore stories.)