In Lansing today, Obama announced his energy plan. According to ABC News, the plan has the following goals:
– having one million 150 miles-per-gallon plug in hybrids on the road by 2015
– having 10% of our energy coming from renewable sources by the end of his first term
– reducing the demand for electricity by 15% by the end of the next decade
He also joined McCain in calling for the tapping of offshore oil reserves. Personally, I’m disappointed, as it’s absolutely asinine to blow through our reserves now, only delaying the inevitable. It pisses me off that Americans can’t comprehend the fact that, like it or not, change is necessary, and we’re never going back to 99-cent gas. So, instead of saving our oil for doing stuff like keeping our population warm and alive through the winter a hundred years from now, we’ll let these giant, lumbering, baby people have it now so that they can keep idling their Hummers with their AC running while at the McDonald’s drive-through window. I don’t see as how he had any choice, but it really chafes my husky, grub-white ass.
Anyway, here’s a video clip from the Associated Press.
I like especially like the part about giving every American a $1,000 energy rebate, paid for with the record profits made by our oil companies.
And here’s a clip from ABC News about the offshore drilling:
…For the first time Monday, Obama also shifted positions — now calling for the tapping of some of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, by swapping light oil for heavy oil in an attempt to lower costs in the short term.
The Illinois Senator said that none of these steps will create a solid move toward energy independence in the long term — and that off shore drilling is not entirely the answer.
Obama recently shifted his position on his opposition to off shore drilling as well — this weekend telling reporters that he’d accept a compromise bipartisan congressional plan by the gang of 10 that includes off shore drilling as long as it includes a larger plan toward energy independence.
“Like all copromises, this one has its drawbacks. It does include a limited amount of new offshore drilling, and while I still don’t believe that’s a particularly meaningful short-term or long-term solution, what I’ve said is I am willing to consider it if it’s necessary to actually pass a comprehensive plan,” Obama said o the bipartisan plan. “While the compromise is a good first step and a good faith effort, I believe that we must go even further.”
Obama said that unlike McCain he doesn’t believe drilling is the one solution to the problem…
All in all, I’d say it was well played by Obama.
[Thanks to Teaspout for the tip from Lansing.]
5 Comments
As far as offshore drilling (and lots of other things), “Meet the new boss–same as the old boss.”
Cynically,
C
If we elect him President, I predict that within five years everything will be running on the blood young white virgins and aborted fetuses.
The support for “clean coal”–which is a myth–and nuclear power was also quite frustrating.
Wait, have tons of plug-in cars AND reduce electricity use? Mixed message maybe?
While I’m at it: I think it’s unfair to use MPG when supplementing gas with another power source (“clean” or not).
Thanks Mark for covering this…here — even tho you get more comments on other kinds of topics. I personally think it was a pretty radical, and reality oriented plan overall – with some already noted imperfections. I think he made it clear in his speech that he is willing to agree to compromises in order to get agreements for more relevant and significant changes passed. Not perfection, but a hell of a lot of progress.
I loved it, personally, tho it worried me that he may lose votes for it… that he mentions the passing of the “oil age”. While I agree and laud much of what he said due to the reality of life in america with the voters, I found myself wishing he’d waited til after he won to say some of the specifics and give such a clear picture of where he is. Only because I think it will scare a lot of folks to death; mobilize the opposition in bed with oil majorly, and such.
Well, I guess we’ll find out if there’s a God or not. Hate to say it, but if we still have one – he may be our last chance.
To end on a more positive note: Go Obama!