by Jim Tankersley
Pitching his energy and climate agenda to a joint session of Congress last February, President Obama warned of the "ravages of climate change" and asked the House and Senate to send him legislation to send me legislation "that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America."
Tonight, in his State of the Union address, Obama pushed essentially the same energy agenda with language that was decidedly more ... aisle-crossing.
He won bipartisan applause by emphasizing plans to build new nuclear plants, develop so-called "clean coal" technology and drill for oil and gas offshore - initiatives favored by many Republicans, and a clear attempt to attract GOP support for a Senate energy and climate bill.
The President didn't explicitly mention a carbon cap - a key feature of his efforts to lead a global effort to combat climate change, and which many Republicans oppose because they say it would kill American jobs - though he did call for "comprehensive" energy and climate legislation, which, in Washington code, means Obama is still pushing for greenhouse gas emissions limits.
He also acknowledged "those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change."
In language that echoed his campaign rhetoric of his 2008 opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama told those climate skeptics: "Here's the thing: Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future - because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy."
The language won cheers from Republicans, at least in the drilling and nuke sections. Environmentalists liked it, too; Frances Beinecke, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, called the speech "a clear and unmistakable call to action" on the climate bill that appears stuck in a legislative queue behind health care, a jobs bill and financial regulation.
Here are the key paragraphs on energy policy:
Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history - an investment ... an investment that could lead to the world's cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last year's investments in clean energy - in the North Carolina company that will create 1200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries; or in the California business that will put 1,000 people to work making solar panels.
But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. (chamber-wide ovation) It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.
I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. And this year, this year, I am eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But ... But, here's the thing: Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future - because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. America must be that nation.
And, for comparison, the similar passages from Obama's 2009 speech:
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders - and I know you don't either. It is time for America to lead again.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history - an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
But to truly transform our economy, protect our security and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest $15 billion a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.
As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.
Comments
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!
NOOoooooooooo!
Why can't we be in charge?!?!
Waaaaaaaah!
I'm going to stomp my feet and hold my breath until I get to make all of the decisions!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Mommy!!!
Posted by: I wanna be a Republican idiot | January 27, 2010 10:14 PM
Excerpt from tonight's State of the Union Speech.
- - PRESIDENT OBAMA:
"Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and my fellow Americans: I come before you tonight to..."
- - PETULANT CHILDREN, ALSO KNOWN AS THE 2010 REPUBLICAN PARTY:
"You lie!" "Nonsense!" "Who asked you?!!" "I'm bored!" "Say it, don't spray it!" "Your thugs stole my ankle flask! I want my ankle flask back!" "Impeach!" [Honk Honk!!!] "I hope you fail because if you fail America fails! Er, um...you know what I mean!" "I'm mooning you for FREEDOM!" "Pee! Poop! Ha Ha Ha!!!" "I forgot my line! Somebody feed me my line! Oh, yeah: Droopy drawers!" [Honk Honk!!!] "Check out these knockers, baby! Whooo!" "Basta! Basta!" "Look! I'm holding up a piece of paper! Eat my symbolism, pal!"
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/18/snl-on-joe-wilson-how-you_n_291090.html
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Posted by: Thank god I'm NOT a Conservative | January 27, 2010 10:19 PM
WOW, NOT CONSERVATIVE, THANKS FOR SETTING THE BAR HIGH URRRR ON THE FLOOR. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! ALL THE WAY TO 2012!!!!!!
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | January 27, 2010 10:34 PM
Let's bring some adult commentary into this following the baby (sorry babies) like blathering from the perpetually ignorant childish left.
During the campaign when polls showed Americans were in favor of off-shore drilling to help combat high gas prices, Obama said he was against it, then for it, then against it in his first year in office and now he apparently is for it again.
In his campaign for president, Obama said he was going to shut down the coal industry. As president, his administration has in fact shut down a coal mine in West Virginia. Now, he says he is for coal again?
This guy will say anything and not mean it. In the accurate infamous words of Joe Wilson, President Obama, "YOU LIE!!!"
Posted by: John D | January 27, 2010 11:46 PM
"Let's bring some adult commentary into this following the baby (sorry babies) like blathering from the perpetually ignorant childish left.
During the campaign when polls showed Americans were in favor of off-shore drilling to help combat high gas prices, Obama said he was against it, then for it, then against it in his first year in office and now he apparently is for it again.
In his campaign for president, Obama said he was going to shut down the coal industry. As president, his administration has in fact shut down a coal mine in West Virginia. Now, he says he is for coal again?
This guy will say anything and not mean it. In the accurate infamous words of Joe Wilson, President Obama, "YOU LIE!!!"
Joe Wilson? Yeah ...his fellow Republicans spanked him and pull his ear! He sat quietly!!
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | January 28, 2010 12:19 AM
I believe Obama got it right. It's a combination of all sources of energy plus each individual taking responsibility to conserve resources. I have a perfect example in my own home. We bought this house five years ago three years ago we had a tankless water heater installed it runs off natural gas. Before it was installed we were on a budget plan with the gas company paying $255 a month year-round. Over the three years our monthly payments had been adjusted downwards I now pay $50 a month plus last year my surplus at the gas company got to be too high and they refunded me over $700. The water heater and its installment cost us around $2400 you do the math and you see it has already paid for itself. We are planning on installing a new roof and will not use traditional shingles because it takes oil to manufacture them. We are going to pay the extra amount and have a steel roof. We have already had an older home that had a steel roof and at that time it was 104 years old and we only had one leak in the flashing around one of seven chimneys. A steel roof has a warranty of 50 years and with proper maintenance will last well over 100 years. At the time that we do this we will also have a small urban vertical axis wind turbine installed. With dual metering you do not need to eat up space with battery storage which by the way is not environmentally sound. I have looked into this over the last five years and with the prices coming down I believe it will pay for itself within the first eight years. This will be done within the next 18 months and we have figured altogether with these upgrades we will also make back the $14,000 that we paid for new windows and doors. Our windows and doors cost more than the average replacements due to the fact we went with a German design which ratings are higher than what is the average here in the USA. I know the same replacements now cost under $10,000 because that design has been selling more. I know it costs money and lots of it for the average homeowner to take that extra measure but, in the long run you get your money back and at the same time you have lowered your carbon footprint. I do this because I know before too long my son will start his own family and I look at all my nieces and think about my future grandchildren and hope that they do not end up wearing a breathing apparatus just to go outside. We cannot count on our elected officials to do what really needs to be done like in the past the American people will do what needs to be done to get it right. Our government can help but, they always seen to overreach and never did it quite right.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | January 28, 2010 2:05 AM
This guy is so superficial! He has big ears, doesn't he listen to anyone other than Pelosi and Reid?. Most of the nation has been calling for Nuclear power, drilling offshore, drilling through out the Southwest, and up in Alaska.We have the natural resources and the technology to make us energy self
sufficient. What we need to do is cut off Opec, Let them drink their damn oil.
Posted by: Paul | January 28, 2010 9:20 AM
This stat concerns me. I hope our President hires more business oriented personnel to get this economy going.
Past presidents and the percentage of each president's cabinet appointees who had previously worked in the private sector.
Roosevelt - 38%
Taft - 40%
Wilson - 52%
Harding - 49%
Coolidge - 48%
Hoover - 42%
FDR - 50%
Truman - 50%
Eisenhower - 57%
Kennedy - 30%
LBJ - 47%
Nixon - 53%
Ford - 42%
Carter - 32%
Reagan - 56%
GHWB - 51%
Clinton - 39%
GWB - 55%
Obama - 8%
Posted by: Richard Owensj | January 28, 2010 10:33 AM
John D = HmongRodneyKing
HAHAHAHAH FIGURES.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | January 28, 2010 10:41 AM
Professor Obama argued with himself last night in his attempt to be the solver of everything...not sure who won the argument.
If he is able to pass the Cap and Tax nonsense - the regulations created will make drilling for domestic oil and gas so cost prohibitive that it can not be done at a profit-
Posted by: heartburn | January 28, 2010 11:09 AM
Based on his consistent record of breaking every pledge he makes, if Obama promised to support "drilling, nukes, and coal" in his speech, we can bet he'll do exactly the opposite.
Posted by: Remember "transparency"? | January 28, 2010 11:24 AM
"John D = HmongRodneyKing
HAHAHAHAH FIGURES.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie
"
Nah. . .this blog's .asp or .php code is poorly written. But, I guess I'm Bobby Mobbie now. . .
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | January 28, 2010 2:18 PM
What a crock! I am former Project Manger of the Luz Solar. Until recently the only utility scale CSp solar power stations in the world. I recently developed a technology that reduces the cost of CSP Solar. The only interest has been Germany and China and I presently have to consider relocation to further develop the technology because no one in the US has any interest except for all this stimulus money being thrown around.
Posted by: Robert Emery | January 28, 2010 4:39 PM
NICE TRY, LOSER.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | January 28, 2010 5:24 PM
I presently have to consider relocation to further develop the technology because no one in the US has any interest except for all this stimulus money being thrown around.
www.gregsoft.in
Posted by: jils | January 29, 2010 3:03 AM
The Center for Media Research has released a study by Vertical Response that shows just where many of these ‘Main Street’ players are going with their online dollars. The big winners: e-mail and social media. With only 3.8% of small business folks NOT planning on using e-mail marketing and with social media carrying the perception of being free (which they so rudely discover it is far from free) this should make some in the banner and search crowd a little wary.
www.onlineuniversalwork.com
Posted by: kiramatalishah | February 2, 2010 11:50 PM