” Climate change is a fact” – Obama, unlike Abbott, supports solar energy

Obama’s State Of The Union Nod To Solar http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4149 29 Jan 14 US President Barack Obama has stated the debate is over and climate change is a fact in his State Of The Union speech – and points to solar as being part of the solution. “The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way,” said the President.

“But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did.”
He said every 4 minutes a home or business in the USA goes solar and the rapid uptake is being reflected in job creation. As we mentioned earlier this week, U.S. solar jobs grew by 20% in the last year.

The President also reaffirmed his intent to see the decades-old fossil fuel subsidy gravy train end. “Let’s continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don’t need it, so that we can invest more in fuels of the future that do.”

The President appeared happy with energy policy reform to date. “Taken together, our energy policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet. Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth. The speech would have further boosted the spirits of the U.S. solar industry and its supporters, who are looking forward to a year of substantial growth in the sector.Closer to home, it’s a different story. With Australia’s Renewable Energy Target up for review and a government that appears hostile to solar;thousands of solar jobs are threatened.

The full transcript of the State Of The Union address can be viewed here.

January 30, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized

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