Speech to Congress: President Obama calls for a market-based cap on carbon pollution and more renewable energy in his remarks to Congress:

"...It begins with energy.

We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.

Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders, and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again.

Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We've also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history, an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, in science and technology.

We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.

But to truly transform our economy, to protect our security and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy.

So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. That's what we need.

And to support -- to support that innovation, we will invest $15 billion a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power, advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more efficient cars and trucks built right here in America..."

 MORE FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

CO2 Revenues: The Obama administration, meanwhile, confirmed that the president's budget accounts for revenues from an emissions trading system as early as 2012.

LCV NEWS: US budget to have CO2 revenues by 2012

02/24/2009

U.S. President Barack Obama's budget accounts for revenues from an emissions trading system in 2012, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Tuesday. 

"That's true," Gibbs said when asked whether a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases would be in place in time for revenues to be generated by 2012.

The president, a Democrat, has said he wants the United States to take the lead in fighting climate change. more...

Offshore Drilling: Interior Secretary announced that the Bush administration's drilling plan would likely be scrapped.

AP: Salazar says limits needed on offshore drilling

By DINA CAPPIELLO and H. JOSEF HEBERT - Jan 27, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday the expansion of offshore oil drilling should be worked out with Congress as part of a broad energy blueprint and not independent action by his department.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Salazar indicated the drilling plan the Bush administration left on his desk likely will be scrapped. It would open the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts for drilling.  more...

The League of Conservation Voters applauded the move, saying Salazar's plan "will take a different road. giving clean energy companies and taxpaying Americans a chance to stand up for the health and safety of our country's resources."  

. . . WHILE AMERICANS INCREASINGLY SAY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IS MORE IMPORTANT

Harris Poll: Half of Americans Believe Economic and Environmental Goals Are Aligned and We Do Not Need To Choose Between Them

Two-thirds Believe Governments Should be Doing More to be Environmentally Conscious

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - February 24, 2009 - As the economic crisis continues, some other issues may be put on the back burner as the government focuses on getting the economy back on its feet. One such issue could be environmental conservation, but 46% of Americans say that the issue of environmental conservation is something that is more important to them personally than it was a few years ago while 47% say it is no more or less important. Just 7% of Americans say it is less important to them. Furthermore, most people do not believe the government needs to choose between the economy and the environment and that the government should be making more of an effort to be environmentally conscious.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll ® , conducted among 2,848 adults in the United States who were surveyed online by Harris Interactive between January 12 and 19, 2009. more...