President Obama’s Energy Proposal
Earlier this week, President Obama laid out his energy policy which highlighted strong support for “clean coal” and biofuels. The New York Times (2/4, John Broder) reported that the president “is trying to expand the portfolio of American energy sources to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases…and spur advances in alternative technologies.” This policy statement dovetails with Obama’s support for development of the “next generation nuclear power plant” in his State of the Union address last month.
While each of these initiatives has proponents and detractors, Obama’s approach recognizes a fundamental reality. Our energy future must include a mix of all energy alternatives from nuclear to coal, wind, solar and conservation. There is no one “silver bullet” that will solve our current and future need for clean and inexpensive energy, while still addressing concerns over global warming. His pragmatic approach toward energy policy is refreshing as we are continuously bombarded with advocates for one energy source over all others as the “answer to our problems”.