...Obama's most prominent effort yet to deliver on a major priority he laid out in his first presidential campaign and recommitted to at the start of his second term: to fight climate change in the U.S. and abroad and prepare American communities for its effects. Environmental activists have been irked that Obama's high-minded goals never materialized into a comprehensive plan.
By expanding permitting on public lands, Obama hopes to generate enough electricity from renewable energy projects such as wind and solar to power the equivalent of 6 million homes by 2020, effectively doubling the electric capacity federal lands now produce. He also set a goal to install 100 megawatts of energy-producing capacity at federal housing projects by the end of the decade.
Obama also announced $8 billion in federal loan guarantees to spur investment in technologies that can keep carbon dioxide produced by power plants from being released into the atmosphere.* Using executive actions:
Embracing an issue that could define his legacy but also ignite new battles with Republicans, Mr. Obama said he would use his executive powers to require reductions in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the nation’s power plants. That was the centerpiece of a three-part plan that includes new federal spending to advance renewable energy technology, as well as spending to protect cities and states from the ravages of storms and droughts that are exacerbated by a changing climate.
- Slowing down the push to build the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline:
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will ask the State Department not to approve the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline unless it can first determine that it will not lead to a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a senior administration official told The Huffington Post.
"Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation's interest," the president said in a Tuesday speech on climate change. "And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward."
Well Mr. President,
ReplyDeleteIf you truely practice what you preach about reducing greenhouse gases, allow fracking on government land and embrace a near zero cost to our debt ridden government with an energy policy favoring natural gas.
Not only is this a zero carbon emmissions fuel but private industry will be able to make the US energy independant within 10 years We can begin to export energy to reduce our trade imbalance.
The only people who won't be happy are those who complain about environmental issues such as green house gases yet have all the same energy consuming luxuries as you and I.
If you live in a cave, own no electronic devices, and wash your clothes by the rocks on the river, please feel free to write a counterpoint.
Thanks,
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Is it a coincidence that his change of position on the Keystone pipeline comes at a point when his approval rating among liberals and progressives has dropped dramatically, due to revelations about NSA spying on Americans and his witch hunt against whistle blowers? I don't think so. It just goes to show that the only way to move politicians is to put heat on them. If they are given a free pass all we get in return are inspiring speeches and empty promises.
ReplyDeleteI think he is preparing us for his approval of the Keystone pipeline in some fashion or another. There is no benefit to our country but the State Dept will say there is and he will point to that statement and say his criteria were met.
ReplyDelete