Obama Sets Ambitious Green Energy Goals, Ties them to Economic Recovery in Address to Congress

President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress last night to promote his plan for U.S. economic recovery.  His speech included several statements linking the growth of clean energy and energy efficiency to economic recovery and future prosperity.  He set two specific energy goals that would receive funding from the recently-passed stimulus bill: to double use of renewable energy in three years and to lay “thousands of miles” of new power lines to help move renewable energy from its places of origin to cities around the country.

Both goals are ambitious but, the president assures, are achievable.  Richard Harris of NPR called the goal of doubling renewable energy from 7 percent to 14 percent of national energy supplies in three years “a tough task” and noted that if the goal were achieved, it would still leave a “long way to go to really ramp down fossil fuels.”

Harris called Obama’s goal of laying thousands of miles of new energy lines a “huge challenge,” citing resistance from private citizens who don’t want new power lines running through their properties or communities.

Obama also spoke about the need to “make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy,” and urged Congress to enact cap-and-trade legislation to regulate carbon emissions to meet that need.

In the portions of his speech on the subject of energy, President Obama continued to stand behind many principles he touted during the campaign.  If the speech is any indication, he is truly dedicated to expanding and upgrading the electrical grid, increasing the availability and use of renewable energy, and curbing carbon emissions.  Now for the hard part: applying that dedication to overcoming the political and economic obstacles that stand in the way.