Crisis and Opportunity,
they are two sides of the same coin.
President Obama attempted to refocus some of our national outrage today, on the inevitable ...
The Reality, that someday soon, we need to transition to Clean sources of Energy.
I call that a great pivot, that is, if we can make it happen.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I continue to believe what I said at that time, which was that domestic oil production is an important part of our overall energy mix. It has to be part of an overall energy strategy.
I also believe that is insufficient to meet the needs of our future, which is why I've made huge investments in clean energy, why we continue to promote solar and wind and biodiesel and a whole range of other approaches, why we're putting so much emphasis on energy efficiency.
But we're not going to be able to transition to these clean-energy strategies right away.
I mean, we're still years off and some technological breakthroughs away from being able to operate on purely a clean-energy grid.
During that time, we're going to be using oil. And to the extent that we're using oil, it makes sense for us to develop our oil and natural gas resources here in the United States and not simply rely on imports.
[PRESIDENT OBAMA continues on this very Pivotal Subject ...]
Let me make one final point. More than anything else, this economic and environmental tragedy, and it's a tragedy, underscores the urgent need for this nation to develop clean, renewable sources of energy.
Doing so will not only reduce threats to our environment. It will create a new homegrown American industry that can lead to countless new businesses and new jobs.
We've talked about doing this for decades, and we've made significant strides over the last year when it comes to investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The House of Representatives has already passed a bill that would finally jump-start a permanent transition to a clean-energy economy. And there is currently a plan in the Senate, a plan that was developed with ideas from Democrats and Republicans, that would achieve the same goal.
If nothing else, this disaster should serve as a wake-up call that it's time to move forward on this legislation. It's time to accelerate the competition with countries like China who've already realized the future lies in renewable energy. And it's time to seize that future ourselves. So I call on Democrats and Republicans in Congress, working with my administration, to answer this challenge once and for all.
Obama on BP oil spill: "I'm fully engaged."
Press conference transcript
By Lynn Sweet -- May 27, 2010
Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service
OK, remind me again, how have we:
made huge investments in clean energy ...
how are we moving towards a:
a clean-energy grid.
whitehouse.gov Transition to a Smart Energy Grid
The $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grant awards are part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion. Applicants state that the projects will create tens of thousands of jobs, and consumers in 49 states will benefit from these investments in a stronger, more reliable grid.
RECOVERY ACT SELECTIONS FOR SMART GRID INVESTMENT GRANT AWARDS - BY CATEGORY (pdf)
RECOVERY ACT SELECTIONS FOR SMART GRID INVESTMENT GRANT AWARDS - BY STATE (pdf)
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Smart Grid Grant Locations (pdf)
It's a very good start.
OK, remind me again, how have we:
made huge investments in clean energy, why we continue to promote solar and wind and biodiesel
Key Obama Budget Investments in Clean Energy
DPC REPORTS
FACT SHEET | March 2, 2010
Key Obama Budget Investments in Clean Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request includes a number of critical investments in clean energy, environmental protection, and natural resources programs. [...]
Clean Energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for energy efficiency and renewable energy would be increased by $113 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels) to $2.36 billion. [...]
Solar. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for solar energy would be increased by $55.4 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels) million to $302.4 million. [...]
Wind. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for wind energy would be increased by $42.5 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels) to $122.5 million. [...]
Carbon Sequestration. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for carbon sequestration would be decreased by $11 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels) to $143 million. [...]
Biofuels and Biorefineries. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for biomass and biorefinery systems matches ($220 million) the enacted Fiscal Year 2010 level. [...]
Electricity Delivery and Relibility. The Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability includes $185.9 million for research and development on technologies like Smart Grid research and development that would better enable the integration of large-scale renewable energy resources like wind and solar energy. [...]
Rural Energy for America. The Department of Agriculture’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests $39.3 million for the Rural Energy for America Program. [...]
New Energy Frontier—Renewable Energy. The Department of Interior’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests $73.3 million to support efforts to expand its use of renewable energy. Specifically, the funding requested would provide:
-- $34.9 million to the Minerals Management Service so that it would be better able to support renewable energy programs on the Outer Continental Shelf;
-- $19.8 million to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to help provide for a faster approval process for developing renewable energy projects on lands overseen by the (BLM);
-- $5 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to help facilitate the development of renewable energy on lands managed by BIA and the Tribes; and
-- $6.6 million to the United States Geological Survey to increase its knowledge of the areas best suited for renewable energy development and $7 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that endangered species consultation that place when considering renewable energy development and conservation planning assistance.
Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit. The Department of Treasury’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests an additional $5 billion in advanced energy manufacturing tax credits. The additional $5 billion for these tax credits would support at least $15 billion in total capital investment while also helping to create construction and manufacturing jobs.
[...]
Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Registry. The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for a comprehensive national system for reporting greenhouse gas emissions would be increased by $4.1 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2009 enacted levels) to $20.1 million.[...]
Greenhouse Gas Standards for Mobile Sources. The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests $6 million for analysis, development, and implementation of greenhouse gas standards for light-duty vehicles.[...]
Greenhouse Gas Permitting. The EPA’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests $30 million to develop the technical capacity for greenhouse gas permitting under the Clean Air Act. [...]
Climate Impacts Initiative. The Department of Interior’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests $171 million to address the impacts of climate change on the nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife.
[...]
Oceanic and Atmospheric Climate Research. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for climate change research would be increased by $16.4 million (as measured against Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels) to $241.5 million. [...]
Several more, very good beginnings ...
(if only, we could "go further, faster")
DOE: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Budget Request and Enacted Levels, FY01-11
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Source: http://dpc.senate.gov/...
DOE: Carbon Sequestration
Budget Request and Enacted Levels, FY01-11
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Source: http://dpc.senate.gov/...
FACTS, and Goals
they're wonderful things ...
If the current Oil Crisis in the Gulf, doesn't "Springboard us" into a Clean Energy Future --
I don't know what will.
Crisis and Opportunity, they are two sides of the same coin.
With every Crisis there is also the Opportunity, to change things, in a Big Way --
To change things, for the Better.
Perhaps the Administration, could even "convince" BP to contribute a "few Billion" ...
to some of these very worthy CLEAN Energy Goals?
It's an idea anyways, and an Opportunity ...
and haven't they been asking for those ... our Ideas?
FWIW.