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On February 24, 2009, President Barack Obama gave his first address to a joint session of Congress since taking office. While the speech has heavily focused on economic recovery, environmental and energy policy also received significant attention. Specifically, Obama's reintroduction of a cap and trade plan raised cheers from many environmentalists and criticism from those who fear such a plan is not viable given current economic conditions.
Despite the controversy surrounding it, President Obama remains determined to make it part of a comprehensive plan to revise energy policy in order to aid economic recovery. Following the speech, Senator Harry Reid announced that it would be possible to pass the president's energy plan through Congress, but it might have to be broken up and taken in stages to do so. The first step, Reid explained that "we all agree: let's start with [the Senate Energy and Natural Resources] committee and come up with something dealing with renewable portfolio standards, some real good conservation measures in buildings and things of that nature," and then move on to establishing tighter regulations on industrial emissions.
The Tuesday night speech, many analysts explained, was a turning point in which abstract issues of energy independence became part of a "national crusade." In his speech, Obama stated that he does "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."
In order to lead, he explained, we must achieve energy independence by harnessing the power of clean and renewable energy sources. It's a message that many environmentalists have been waiting to gain national tenor.
Find out more about the latest environmental and political news on Focus Earth: February 28, 2009: Economizing Energy and Green Industry Blues.
Read more about green politics:
Barack Obama Faces Environmental Clean Up After Two Centuries of Bingeing: Bill McKibben
Write Your Congressman?Make a Positive Eco Impact
Get Local Politicians to Go Green
