How Far Has Obama’s Sustainability Plan Come Thus Far?
How far has President Obama‘s plan for green living come thus far?
“So we have a choice to make. We can remain one of the world’s leading importers of foreign oil, or we can make the investments that would allow us to become the world’s leading exporter of renewable energy. We can let climate change continue to go unchecked, or we can help stop it. We can let the jobs of tomorrow be created abroad, or we can create those jobs right here in America and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity.”
- President Obama, March 19, 2009
Many green organizations cheered with joy about the potential “change” that newly inaugurated president, Barack Obama, had promised the country. Environmentalists for years have hoped for a day when their issues and voices would be heard and acted upon. But almost nine months into his term, has the president held true to his promises of moving America in a greener direction?
According to grist.org, Mark Longabaugh, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at League of Conservation Voters, states that Obama is “by far one of the most compelling and knowledgeable politicians on the environment I’ve ever sat in a room with. I’ve been playing national politics for more than 20 years and I quite literally can’t remember one person I’ve met — even on a national level — who was more in command of facts, more eloquent, and more passionate on these issues than Sen. Obama.”
Jack Darin, who is the director of the Sierra Club’s Illinois chapter, has worked with Obama on a number of these issues. “He’s an incredibly quick study. He’s not a scientist, but remarkably adept at analyzing the details of complex environmental issues, asking the right questions, and ultimately making the right policy decision for public interest,” said Darin.
The Progressfrom www.whitehouse.com
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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $60 billion in clean energy investments that will jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow, including:
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$11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.
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$5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.
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$4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
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$6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
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$600 million in green job training programs – $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.
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$2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.
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Increasing, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 cars and trucks so they will get better mileage, saving drivers money and spurring companies to develop more innovative products.
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The President issued a memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators. Through this step, over the next three decades, we’ll save twice the amount of energy produced by all the coal-fired power plants in America in any given year. WHAT ABOUT THE CASH FOR APPLIANCES PROGRAM?
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Supporting the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
- On Earth Day 2009, the President unveiled a program to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable America, for the first time ever, to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.
The progress from www.whitehouse.com
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $60 billion in clean energy investments that will jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow, including:
- $11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.
- $5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.
- $4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
- $6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
- $600 million in green job training programs – $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.
- $2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.
- Increasing, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 cars and trucks so they will get better mileage, saving drivers money and spurring companies to develop more innovative products.
- The President issued a memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators. Through this step, over the next three decades, we’ll save twice the amount of energy produced by all the coal-fired power plants in America in any given year.
- Supporting the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.
- On Earth Day 2009, the President unveiled a program to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable America, for the first time ever, to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.
The Skeptics
Nine months into his term, and with healthcare reform and other economic recovery efforts among other issues filling his plate, many of Obama’s green supporters are curious as to when they will see real environmental change.
According to an article posted on marketwatch.com, many economists wonder how specific green proposals will fly in today’s economy.
- Which industries will be the beneficiaries of these jobs?
- Will any of these funding initiatives be able to provide a foundation for a true U.S. green economic boom in the U.S.?
- Just how much will it cost taxpayers to create these jobs?
These are all great questions that would have to be answered by President Obama before his plan for a greener America comes to fruition. Nine months in, the jury is still out on whether or not his stance on making significant legislation to protect the planet will come to pass, however, most environmentalists don’t doubt his best intentions.
Other Reading and Related Stories
Obama the Environmentalist
New Energy For America
Going Green, a Long Term Obama Goal by the Washington Independent
The Greenest White House
The White House Stance
October 28th, 2009 at 11:54 am
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November 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
although i care about the environment, i think obama should worry about the war going on and the us financial crisis instead of picking what types of organic veggies he wants to grow in his garden.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
i think it’s good that obama is getting involved in the environment, even though it’s not a pressing issue right now, but in the future the effects of environmental carelessness will show. It’s better to prevent before major changes occur.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I think Obama’s doing more than Bush ever did when it comes to the greening of America. At least he’s trying. Props to him.
December 11th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
G-Obama!
December 25th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
May 9th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
A nice review of what Obama has done this past few months. I just wish he would go on pursuing all citizens of United Stated to use energy efficient products like the ones that can be found in http://www.tintbuyer.com where installing one square foot of window film can eliminate 2-5 pounds of CO2 emissions – a typical home would eliminate 500-1,250 pounds of CO2 and a large commercial building would eliminate 400-1,000 TONS of CO2 depending on the choice of film