by Rebecca Cole
In honor of Earth Day, President Barack Obama traveled to Newton, Iowa, today to push his plan for a "new energy economy," one that will reduce dependence on foreign oil, create green-collar jobs and lay a foundation for new economic growth.
In his remarks, Obama invoked the nation's history of "producing and harnessing new forms of energy," but sounded a warning note that the country cannot continue to consume the lion's share of the world's resources and send billions of dollars overseas.
"We cannot afford to do that anymore - not when the cost for our economy, for our country, and for our planet is so high," Obama said. "On this Earth Day, it is time for us to lay a new foundation for economic growth by beginning a new era of energy exploration in America."
In addition, Obama announced an Interior Department program to authorize off-shore wind projects for the first time and called for ambitious legislation to enact a market-based cap on carbon emissions. Carbon and other pollutants would be traded like a commodity with companies trading on the open market for the right to produce a certain amount.
The president touted the myriad of initiatives his administration has already proposed, primarily through funding in the economic stimulus act, including an overhaul of the nation's electricity grid; high speed rail; tax cuts for residential and commercial weatherization projects; and billions in funding for wind, solar, clean coal and geothermal programs.
"When it comes to renewable energy, I don't think we have to be followers,'' he said. "I think it is time for us to lead.''
Jobs are being created in response to these programs, Obama said, as "local governments and businesses rush to hire" people as they ramp up production. The president, however, did not provide any specifics or numbers as to how many new energy jobs have been created to date.
"All of the steps we have taken in just these first three months represent perhaps more progress than we have achieved in three decades," Obama said. "We are beginning the difficult work of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We are beginning to break the bonds of fossil fuels. We are beginning to create a new, clean energy economy - and the millions of jobs that will flow from it."
Once home to a Maytag plant that employed more than 2,000 people, Newton saw those jobs vanish when the company shuttered the facility in 2006. In its stead, the town now has Trinity Structural Towers, a maker of wind-turbine towers, , to which Obama pointed as evidence that new, clean-energy jobs can come to areas that have lost traditional manufacturing positions.
Trouble is, as we noted earlier, the Maytag plant employed 2,000 people. The Trinity facility only employs "dozens of former Maytag employees," according to a White House statement. A search of the company's website shows only one open job located at the Newton plant: a manufacturing position requiring a high-school education level.
Comments
Things I have never seen...
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A bison throw a cigarette butt out a car window
A flock of geese rip the top off a mountain
A seal cause an oil spill
A hippo drive a Hummer off a dealer's lot
A lemur leave the faucet dripping
A raccoon go out for the evening and leave all the lights in the house on
A bobcat fight legislation to lower smokestack emissions
A songbird sing "Drill Baby, Drill"
A panda dump raw sewage into a river
A pride of lions so dependent on oil that they're willing to wage war over it
A slug (the real kind, not the George Will kind) claim that our biggest worry is global cooling
A gorilla fail to keep its tires properly inflated
A salmon pollute a stream with mercury
An elephant claim that his God says it's okay to pillage the world's natural resources willy-nilly because pachyderms are the "chosen ones"
A lizard mock public transportation
A penguin claim that the melting polar ice caps are no big deal
A crocodile think up new ways to go overboard on plastic packaging for portable electronics
Posted by: LoveBuzz | April 22, 2009 3:07 PM
I don't care what anybody says, I think he will help to clean up the Earth. Earth Day should be everyday, it is good that there is at least one day to spread awareness. Here are some suggestions on what you can do to help the Earth: http://www.toptentopten.com/topten/things+to+do+on+earth+day, you can add your own suggestions.
Posted by: Vince | April 22, 2009 4:44 PM
This is a must listen on earth day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3JfLrvjeOk
Posted by: Terry | April 22, 2009 10:08 PM
As you greenies go about using energy efficient CFL bulbs, remember the following when disposing of them since they contain mercury.
Disposing of Burnt Out Bulbs
Step1 - Seal the bulb inside two plastic bags, or one thick freezer bag, before disposing in the trash. You should throw the bulbs away only if you have no other options.
Step2 - Find the nearest recycling station that handles hazardous materials. Check with your city's municipal office to see if there is a recycling program in your town.
Step3 - Contact the recycling station if it is not in your city. They may or may not take your bulbs if your city does not allow or participate in such a program.
Step4 - Take the bulbs to the recycling station. Ask the people there about the process of giving them your bulbs and follow all their instructions.
Step5 - Tell everyone you know who is using energy efficient bulbs how to properly dispose of them as the use of these bulbs is growing.
If you break them, remember the bulbs contain MERCURY.
Step 1 - Open a window and leave the room. Let no one inside for at least 15 minutes.
Step2 - Collect the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Wear disposable rubber gloves. Do not use a vacuum cleaner.
Step3 - Clean the entire area with a wet wipe or wet paper towel. Use adhesive tape to collect excess powder.
Step4 - Seal all pieces and cleanup materials in a plastic bag. Follow the above procedures on disposal or recycling. Wash your hands completely afterward.
Step5 - Dispose of the vacuum bag in the same manner the next time you vacuum the area. If it's a canister vacuum, wipe it completely clean.
ENJOY
Posted by: Terry | April 22, 2009 10:14 PM
Wonderful, all the birds and animals will be happy again, because all the humans will be gone.
Posted by: Paul | April 23, 2009 8:54 AM