Western governors ask Obama to act quickly on energy policy

[Bozita]

Source: AP

Western governors ask Obama to act quickly on energy policy
BY BROCK VERGAKIS • ASSOCIATED PRESS • NOVEMBER 28, 2008


SALT LAKE CITY — The governors of the nation’s largest energy-producing states are encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to quickly adopt a national energy policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The bipartisan Western Governors’ Association delivered Obama a four-page letter outlining what steps it believes his administration should take to address the issue in his first 100 days in office.

Among the recommendations are annually spending tens of billions of dollars to develop clean energy technology, establishing an “aggressive” greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal to help stop global warming and proposing a mandatory national system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through “market-based mechanisms.”

“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past,” says the letter signed by the association’s chairman, Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, and vice chairman, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana. “The future of our nation depends on it.”

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20081128/NEWS15/81128010

[gristy]

1. Oh, yes. Quick, quick! Crisis, crisis! Must act!

We've seen how that has worked out.

[izquierdista]

2. Mistakes of the past?

I suppose that is the closest Republicans will come to an apology, considering that they have been in charge for most of the (recent) past.

[madville]

3. I just hope any new policies don't cause price increases

Consumers budgets are already just about broken. Higher electric bills are not going to go over well. If they can do it and actually save us some money or not cost any more than current prices and be green about that would be wonderful.

Of course energy companies will start justifying price increases by using and spinning anything the Democrats do concerning energy policy.

[pinto]

4. I'm glad to see the Western Governors bring this up prior to the mtg. w/Obama next week.

While that meeting has an economic focus, green technology is part and parcel of any broad based economic recovery plan.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[olddad56]

5. I think they will need to wait until he at least takes office.

[MasonJar]

6. NPR had a report that Iowa's economy is hurting, but that the state has immense potential

for industries in wind power. We need to get that going asap as well as any similar opportunity. It will put people to work, improve the economy a lot more than handing out mioney to the cheaters and help the environment. The trifecta!