Obama's inaugural and new White House website bring good climate news (mostly)

In his inaugural address, President Obama made clean energy and global warming a priority. He said, "…each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." He also said, "We will restore science to its rightful place." Nice to hear.

And that's not all: On the White House website… the Energy and Environment section is prominently featured – above the fold.

What we like about the platform is that it is clearly not written by two oilmen, which is a change; and also, that, in places at least, it echoes the 1Sky platform.

As part of the Obama/Biden plan, the website (www.whitehouse.gov) promises to "invest in alternative and renewable energy, end our addiction to foreign oil, address the global climate crisis and create millions of new jobs."

All that sounds good, but there is more: and it does sound familiar:

"The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan will: "Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future."

Note here – more money for green jobs would be better. If we are spending $850 billion or so, more can and should go to green jobs. From the looks of it, Congress is quickly recognizing the economics of investing in green infrastructure. Approximately $130 billion in the stimulus bill released in the House late last week goes to green projects - that's over 85% of what Obama originally wanted to invest over TEN years! Speaker Pelosi and Obama have both recognized the link between green infrastructure and green jobs too.

The website also highlights that the new President is ready to propose a cap and trade program to reduce global warming pollution. The website includes a proposal to, "Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050." Of course, 80 percent by 2050 is what we want and will help fight for this important reduction.

Now, we do not agree with everything in the Obama/Biden proposal. Unfortunately, the website and the President's platform continue to subscribe to the tooth fairy version of reality when they suggest the development and deployment of clean coal.

But the updated White House web site ends on a high note noting that the new President wants to make the U.S. a world leader on climate change.