Obama’s Team and the Environment
Anyone who has railed against the close ties between the current administration and the fossil fuel industry has to be breathing a sigh of relief as President Elect Obama fills out his cabinet with people who believe in Global Warming and want to institute a cap on greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions. understand that energy independence is much more likely from alternative sources than thru use of fossil fuels.
Secretary of Interior nominee, Ken Salazar, is a long time proponent of renewable energy and an opponent of developing oil shale in the western US. The Colorado Senator told yesterday’s press conference that the country needs a technical effort equivalent to the “moon shot” to bring energy independence to the US. He is thought to be open to the idea of business exploiting Interior Department lands, while seeking to protect wilderness and the environment. He appears to be impressed by both the environment and the need for economic growth and the need to balance them.
The choice of Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator brings a veteran of the EPA and more recently the NJ Dept. Evironmental Protection. She seems to be an enforcer who feels the EPA has gone easy on the US auto mileage standards, but is also criticized for “caving into business” on enforcement issue. Add in former Clinton admin EPA administrator Carol Browner as Presidential advisor on energy and climate change, you see a team of moderates that leans towards new environmental and regulatory changes that have been adopted by the rest of the industrial world’s countries.
December 30th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I think many people on both sides of ithe aisle were unsure and sometimes weary of who Obama would select as his top aides and cabinet members, however in the recent weeks I think most of us have been very happy with his choices, especially in those realms to which are relevant for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology.
I think we’ve got a sound team coming together on Obama’s end and hope that it will not only increase investor confidence for Green Power Projects and Clean Technology, but also fuel government’s support pragmatically.
A good deal of recent news coverage for Obama’s 2009 stimulus package has put a heavy emphasis on creating green jobs, though a focal point needs to also be on creating green power. Without sufficient governmental support and a rise of investor confidence for developing utility scale renewable power plants, we cannot reach the intended goal of not only creating green jobs, but to also create sustainable green power.
Regardless of the greater development of solar, wind and nuclear power projects, there will never be a carbon free energy production.
With a cap and trade system and the purchase of carbon credits, it might percievably be so… but never in reality.
Many of the power plants in existence will continue to produce power, they will do so as long as it is profitable for the owner and can meet the required demand of the utilities. Which will be for several decades.
Furthermore, many Renewable/Green Power plants still have emissions, including Biomass Power plants. Biomass as a fuel source for develping renewable power projects is ideal for many locations which are lacking in ideal solar and wind power sites (which is many states), furthermore… many states who might have ideal sites, but they lack viable transmission at present. So biomass is one solution that is very viable for many regions, however still has a carbon output.
I guess the point to be made is that any carbon output isn’t such a bad thing and that it will continue to continue. We should always advocate to decrease output, but lets keep the advocacy within the pragmatic realm.
Kevin G. Davis
Managing Director, Emerald Endeavors
http://www.EmearldEndeavors.com