State of the Union: Sort of green

January 28th, 2010

Photo via Flickr: Justin Marty

Of the 70 minutes that made up President Obama’s State of the Union address last night, he took about four — count ‘em, four — to focus on the environment and clean energy. I don’t want to hold it too much against him, though, since I thought the speech was quite moving, and accomplished its goal of reassuring an angry and disillusioned American public that the promise of hope the president campaigned on hasn’t been completely lost in the mire of Washington politics.

Still, with the focus on jobs, jobs, jobs, it’s a bit of wonder to me why there wasn’t a more extended look at the clean energy economy that’s going to create all those jobs, and green collar jobs in particular.

Here’s my play-by-play of the highlights (and lowlights) from those four minutes:

Encouraging American innovation. “Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history: an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells…”

Obama is referring to the $16 billion allocated by the American Reinvestment Recovery Act for research — including $2 billion for the Department of Energy. No argument from me here: A country that leads the way in affordable solar technology is the country that’s going to create a lot of jobs at home and generate a lot of income from exports.

Nuclear power. “But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. That means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country.”

Eh. Don’t know how I feel about this one. Nuclear power is controversial and far from perfect, but I’m becoming slightly (and I mean slightly) more open to the possibility that if we want to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, those of us with qualms about radioactive waste may have to reconsider.

Offshore drilling. “It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.” (met by cheers from Republicans)

Wait, what? How can this be Obama’s third point to make about clean energy, and before a mention of alternative fuels? Methinks I smell concessions for a climate bill…

Alternative fuels. “It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies.”

Like the advanced biofuels part; not so thrilled about the perpetuation of the oxymoronic clean coal myth.

Climate bill. “And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill, with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.”

Will the Senate finally make good on the bill the House passed last year? If the president’s points above are any clue, I guess yes — with some concessions to the Republicans. Though seeing as how the Republicans actually cheered when Obama called out “those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change,” the senators may have their work cut out for them.

–Jennifer Grayson