Obama," I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy."

January 25, 2012 – Vol.16 No.45

OBAMA, “I WILL NOT WALK AWAY FROM THE PROMISE OF CLEAN ENERGY.”
by Bruce Mulliken, Green Energy News

You may not like President Obama. You may think he’s a failed leader. You may want someone else at the helm of the nation this time next year.

But, if your interest is in clean, renewable and efficient energy look carefully at who might occupy the White House in a year. As you must know, change brings with it certain risks.

Below are clips of what the candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination have posted in their websites about the topic:

Mitt Romney:

“Government has a role to play in innovation in the energy industry. History shows that the United States has moved forward in astonishing ways thanks to national investment in basic research and advanced technology. However, we should not be in the business of steering investment toward particular politically favored approaches. That is a recipe for both time and money wasted on projects that do not bring us dividends. The failure of windmills and solar plants to become economically viable or make a significant contribution to our energy supply is a prime example.”

“Concentrate alternative energy funding on basic research”

“Utilize long-term, apolitical funding mechanisms like ARPA-E for basic research” (ARPA-E is the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy”

http://www.mittromney.com/issues/energy

Newt Gingrich:

“Finance cleaner energy research and projects with new oil and gas royalties.”

http://www.newt.org/solutions/american-energy-plan

Ron Paul:

“Make tax credits available for the purchase and production of alternative fuel technologies.”

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/energy

Rick Santorum:

“Rely on market forces and private sector research and development capabilities to provide Americans with clean, affordable energy through competition.”

“Expand domestic innovations and energy resources. This includes oil, natural gas, hydro, biomass, wind, solar, clean coal, and nuclear energy.”

“Eliminate all energy subsidies and tax credits. This will prevent the federal government from picking winners and losers in our effort to unleash all of America’s domestic energy sources.”

“Restructure the priorities of the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE spends an exorbitant amount of money on technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alternative-energy vehicles. All of these energy sources and technologies are currently available, but they are not yet commercially viable because of burdensome regulations or because they are still prohibitively expensive. It is not the government’s role to force these technologies into the market place.”

http://www.ricksantorum.com/unleashing-america%E2%80%99s-domestic-energy

Certainly, whoever becomes the Republican candidate will refine and expand their message on energy.

For President Obama I’ll use some clips from his State-of-the-Union address to Congress and the American people:

“When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance. But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, “I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.”

"Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here.”

“We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs.

“We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.”

“Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So here’s a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs.”

(Note on the above: It appears as though various agencies within the Federal Government should be issuing Requests for Proposals (RFP) at some time during the year to develop the proposed clean energy on public land as well as the Navy clean energy purchase.)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/24/remarks-president-state-union-address

Energy-focused organizations offered their opinions on Obama’s words on clean energy.

Hemant Taneja, co-founder of Advanced Energy Economy said, ”With global energy consumption projected to rise more than 50% by 2035, future prosperity depends on new ways to meet the world’s energy needs. It is time to set aside differences over what forms of energy are 'best' and focus on the range of options and choices required to meet our energy needs. Developing these options presents an opportunity for American companies and American workers, which have led every technology- and innovation-driven transformation of the past, from aerospace to the Internet. I hope the President and Congress will work together to help the U.S. become more prosperous and more secure by leading the way toward a smarter energy future."

Advanced Energy Economy http://aee.net

Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) said,” Tonight President Obama stated that "the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy." We couldn't agree more. Our research has found that energy efficiency is our cheapest and cleanest energy resource. As the President said, if we waste less energy, "America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, and more jobs for construction workers who need them." In his State of the Union address the President proposed to help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. This is a worthwhile objective and we look forward to learning more about his proposal."

ACEEE http://www.aceee.org