Obama's Stimulus Plan: The Energy Debate

CNET: There's Still Much To Sort Out On Washington's Clean-Tech Initiatives

(CNET)  Shortly after President-elect Barack Obama set a goal of doubling the country's renewable energy in three years, the jockeying over the energy portions of his administration's stimulus plan began.

At a speech at George Mason University on Thursday, Obama repeated his intention to promote the development of clean-technologies such as solar and wind energy, and to upgrade the electricity distribution system to enable smart-grid technologies. Obama said:

"To finally spark the creation of a clean-energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize more than 75 percent of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of 2 million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions (of dollars) on our energy bills.

In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced--jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain."

In response to a query from The Wall Street Journal, an Obama transition aide said doubling renewable-energy production in the United States is possible through a combination of loan guarantees and, ultimately, a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS).

There are a number of state-level RPS policies mandating that utilities get a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable technologies; the targets in California have set off a race to build up solar-power plants there. During the campaign, Obama had advocated a national RPS at 10 percent by 2012 and 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.

Renewable energy from wind, solar, and geothermal is about 24,000 megawatts, according to the aide, which represents about 1 percent of all power generation in the country.

"By providing significant loan guarantees and ultimately, later down the road, a national (renewable portfolio standard), we are confident we will get the wind industry back on track. In addition to the 20,000+ megawatts of wind, we are confident that with the same combination of support and renewable standards, the geothermal and solar industries can install 4,000MW of new power," the aide told the Journal.

After his talk, members of Obama's economic team met with members of Congress, who voiced their concerns with the plan.

"Energy is way underrepresented here in the package that has been discussed," said Sen. Kent Conrad, according to a report at Energy and Environment Daily (subscription required).

That sentiment was echoed by Sen. John Kerry: "I'm very confident that some adjustments are going to be made...We positively--absolutely in my judgment--need to spend more on energy, and I made that point and will continue to make that point."

The entire stimulus plan put forth is structured so that 40 percent of the money comes from direct tax cuts, 40 percent from direct investments in initiatives such as efficiency, and 20 percent directed at states, according to reports.

Overall, renewable-energy companies are optimistic on the potential for policy changes under Obama. In response to Thursday's speech, the American Council on Renewable Energy said it is issuing a call to action to its 600 members to issue plans on how to double renewable energy output in the next three years.

The auto sector is also angling to secure loan guarantees and incentives to establish electric-car manufacturing in the United States, according to a report earlier this week in the Detroit News.

Advocates of underground storage of carbon at coal-fired power plants are also hoping to restart investment in the Department of Energy-sponsored FutureGen project.

[aerhed]

Jedi is King of the Neandertals.

[aerhed]

MS1, That library thing is great. Too bad most Repubs can''t read! It''s a good thing they don''t believe in evolution or they''d realize they are all a bunch of neandertals about to become extinct. What will the archaeologists of 3500AD think when they start digging up fat ugly Repugs in Hummers?

[dburfears]

What a joke are these GOP parrots who wwant to hold Obama "accountable" for what he hasn''t yet done. Accountable? He''s not even in office yet. Thsi is just a bunch of sad pathetic back-enders who will never be satisfied unless Obama fails.

You want to talk about accountability? The real crime in failed accountability is the 8 years of secret government run by Bush and NEVER held accountable by a subservient GOP led congress. The last 2 year of a Dem majority in the House, Bush and the parrots on this board would hear NONE of any accountability.

Accountability? Yes- we need some. it''s time to start looking at hte CRIMES of Bush and his thugs in the GOP. Let''s have some "accountability".

[strangeworld]

One of the biggest failings of the republicans is their inability to address problems facing our nation without somehow twisting policy around to benefit their wealthy friends, business associates, and campaign contributors. For the past eight years, the president should have been on TV talking about energy conservation and car-pooling...instead he and his administration endorsed policy to put as much money as possible into oil company coffers. This is not too hard to understand when you look at the past background of the players in the bush administration - most were/sre somehow associated with big oil. The GOP traded away the future of our country for the gluttonous short-term profits that the oil companes have been raking in under this administration. Republicans should continue to be voted out, from local elections to national contests, the GOP has become a party of national traitors.

[irmcvet971]

Marines are a bunch of ***-polishing queers.

Posted by yesbama1 at 11:59 PM : Jan 09, 2009

Whoa! NOW you are WAY out of bounds!! I have 15 very good friends on that Wall in Washington and NOT ONE of them is anything but the best this nation has. Today freaks on this board would call them all Lib''s by the way but be that as it is, they deserve, as all Marines, regardless of political views, the highest respect. My Dad was a Marine in WW II, fought in the pacific and was a NEW DEAL LIBERAL. I am a New Frontier Liberal and spent a Year and 26 days in that great vacation spot called Viet Nam, Chu Lai to be exact. Marines are no different than anyone else out here, we are just American Citizens who choose to wear a VERY special Uniform and be VERY proud about it.

[irmcvet971]

Spending, spending, spending..when does it end?

It ends when they bleed Americans dry.

Posted by peace4321 at 05:05 PM : Jan 09, 2009

Yep and WE the people agreed with him. Say have you fascist actually ever READ the document called the Constitution? You know the part that says WE the PEOPLE?? Well in case you had your head up the Grand Wizards behind, YOU LOST! The AMERICAN PEOPLE said about as LOUD as they can say it TODAY, that they want a change in course. THAT means Trickle Down, the Republican LIE, is NO MORE! Get over it and move on!!

[irmcvet971]

The prick is a liar about being a Marine too. Too ****** stupid, no character or integrity to be in the Corps.

Posted by TheMasses100 at 08:59 PM : Jan 09, 2009

Well sure I am! IF I don''t agree with the "Party" and you fascist I can''t be a Marine huh? ROFLMAO No wonder you freaks fell for the WORST in HISTORY, you lack the basic intelligence to even KNOW that people DO NOT agree with you! Now put on that HOOD and SHEET and stand tall!! Sieg Heil Y''all.

[irmcvet971]

Can you be any more obnoxious and in your haste to ride your holier-than-thou band wagon thru town...where he did the poster you railed against say anything about being Republican...twit. People like you make Democrats cringe.

Posted by likeitis5050 at 08:14 PM : Jan 09, 2009


Well SINCE there are TWO parties and SINCE the poster put up the same tired old LIE we''ve heard from the Fascist for DECADES now, it must be assumed that they, at least, hold to that "trickle down" mentality. Sieg Heil!!

[irmcvet971]

Four years and nothing will be done yeah big change

Posted by popstom11 at 08:15 PM : Jan 09, 2009

Ya think? ROFLMAO better hang on to that swastika pal, you are about to become totally IRRELEVENT!! Sieg Heil Y''all

[whitemale08]

solar power is responsible for all life on this planet.
judging by your existence, I guess its not always a success


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Posted by ainttaken at 11:41 PM : Jan 09, 2009--

You are right about the Sun''s responsiblity for life.

However one life-form cannot consume energy and efficiently pass on the same amount of residual energy or its intensity to another life-form.

We need geo-thermol and nuclear energy to efficiently and adequately provide for our energy needs.

The problem with today''s Universities is that it''s all curriculum created out of British ''think-tanks'' like the ''Congress for Cultural Freedom'' back in the 50''s and 60''s.

The British objective derived out the CCF (Congress for Cultural Freedom) was to remove ''discovery'' or ''common sense'' from University classrooms.

You, like every other college student, was taught that ''every new discovery has already been discovered'' by recognized scientists''.

You were taught to never question your professors because they were the ''authorities'' on science.

We have to root out CCF from our classrooms.