Obama’s “Clean Energy” Comments
To all those who watched the State of the Union address, I am sure that there were mixed feelings about what was said. He spoke on a number of topics, most especially about pulling us out of this economic slump we are in by creating jobs and tax breaks for the right people, or at least, that’s what I got out of it. But what really stuck out for me was his comments on clean energy. If you watched the whole thing, or even read the full text, “clean energy” was spit out in a number of places, on topics of every color. One of the first places it was mentioned was when speaking of how many people became employed in the clean energy sector within the past year and how he wants more people to be employed within this sector. I was delighted he did mention that more incentives should be given for those making energy efficiency a priority in their homes. Although, it was linked right back to those clean energy jobs. It wasn’t until a little later in the address that we found out just what kind of “clean energy” he was referring to.
“But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives,” Obama said. “And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country.”
O….wasn’t expecting that. So the answer to our job crisis and clean energy crisis together is nuclear? I am not sure how I feel about that.
“It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”
A double kicker?!
“It means continued investment in… clean coal technologies.”
O boy. I do recall hearing those words far too many times during another administration and not being to happy about it. Obama urged the Senate to be leaders in their work, to make the nation trust Washington again, to pass the energy bill, but with things like these, I fear it may cause other issues. Hopefully, the words “renewable energy sources” and “less dependence on fossil fuels” will be in his next address. Until then, I suppose we sit and wait, and although we might enjoy those tax cuts for making our homes more energy efficient and some might benefit from more jobs in the energy sector, we should for sure keep tabs on where that clean energy is coming from and the impacts that they might have. Just a thought.
And just to note, I have utmost faith in Obama and continue to feel that him sitting in the oval office is one of the best things that has happened for our country in a long time. I just hope that the clean energy sector is sincerely thought about and not pushed aside.
Categories: Ithaca College
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I too was a little shocked to hear him talk of Nuclear and Coal for power. As far as I know, there is no way to burn coal cleanly. Now, nuclear energy is clean but is it safe? The waste is a huge problem, right? The problem is that we have to stop our reliance on foreign oil. If the U.S. has to rely on something like the solutions the president spoke of or something that isn’t completely clean for a short time then we may need to look into it. Using one or a combination of different types of fuels to produce energy in order to get us off foreign oil but on our way to a real clean energy temporarily may be, albeit controversial, a possible solution. We have to start somewhere, I would prefer something other than a different dirty fossil fuel or nuclear. If the plan has a clear cut off from the alternatives as we go to something that is better for the environment, I say we at least have to look into it. My hope is that the current clean resources we already have get better and/or research of other types of renewable energy sources goes into production soon. It is hard just to say one way or the other because our economy, the other elephant in the room, relies on fossil fuels. My heart hopes for a clean renewable energy that can be produced soon and in enough quantity that makes all others obsolete.