Had the chance to see Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) speak today on the subject of renewable energy and energy independence. It was a great speech, focusing primarily on the auto industry. He cited examples of Japanese and European automakers getting the point: that hybrid and alternative fuel technologies are for today, and that the demand is there. He chided U.S. automakers for not seeing reality, clinging to outmoded technologies and business models that cost them sales, which in turn cause them to bleed money and lay off dedicated workers.

He proposed many things, including a “healthcare for hybrids” model, where the U.S. goverment will assist the “big three” U.S. automakers in providing health insurance for their workers, in exchange for their active pursuit of cars using hybrid technologies, biodiesel, and better overall fuel efficiency. He deftly tied the whole energy issue to national security, and to the shortcomings of not only the Bush administration, but to politicians on both sides of the aisle. He was blunt without insulting, but he made his point.

He also answered many questions about biofuel, and wowed the audience with not only his depth of knowledge (e.g. he knew that cellulose-derived ethanol is 8 time less energy intensive to produce than the corn-based ethanol that’s the darling of the U.S. petroleum industry), but his ability to clearly articulate the issues without sounding like a wonk, and without talking down to the audience.

It was great stuff. Obama gets it. He knows how to stay on-message without sounding like a stale, Washington-lifer congressman. He’s willing to admit when he doesn’t know something, and he’s also attentive to those around him.

I got to speak with him briefly, and he and I discussed something he said during his Q&A time. One of the questioners said that she was a resident of the District of Columbia, and thus didn’t have voting representation in congress. Sen. Obama very quickly said that, until we have full representation, that he will be our voice, our vote in congress.

I asked him if that was true, and he said that he stands by it: he’s there for the citizens of DC, so long as we don’t have a voting voice in the Senate. I give him major props for such candor and willingness to listen to people who don’t live in Illinois.

He does his homework, and he’s a man of integrity. Let’s hope he stays that way.