Obama Pushes Clean Energy Jobs
Politico reports:
President Barack Obama will advance several high-profile energy ideas during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, such as phasing out of billions of dollars in oil subsidies, a shout out to biofuels and electric vehicles and setting a nationwide goal for “clean energy sources” that includes nuclear and “clean coal.”
The president’s prepared remarks suggest the White House will continue to push efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — although the phrase climate change isn’t used - and promote clean energy technologies despite the death of cap-and-trade legislation last year.
Obama will use his speech to make a direct link between economic growth and clean energy policies, while studiously avoiding picking favorites among several different power sources that can quickly prompt bitter regional fights, as well as partisan ones.
“Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they’re selling,” Obama is scheduled to say. “So tonight, I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: by 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources. Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all – and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen.”
Prospects for a so-called “clean energy standard” are wide open in 2011 but it could be the most aggressive and politically-feasible way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on Capitol Hill in this Congress. All of the focus will be centered around the Senate and competing bills expected from Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and perhaps even Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).
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