Michael Bass

Social Problems in a Global Context: Current Event

2/19

3:09

                        Obama on Energy and International Plans For Saving Some

            President Barrack Obama latest development in the world of environmentally friendly energy proposal is one which can finally level the United States on the same plane as Europe. Obama’s plan is to, plainly, kill three birds with one stone. Stimulating the economy, cutting the emissions level, and increase energy security, is the idea: this plan would require roughly $150 billion dollars. California, with stringent emissions requirements that were, before, rejected, is being giving given proper review. To better the emissions, Obama plans to seriously look into clean burning coal as we have access to ¼ of the world’s coal.

            This package can boost the American economy by giving jobs, lower the emissions level, and increase the amount of laws and regulations pertaining to environmental safety. The only problem seems to stem from the amount of capital needed to make the investment. A clean-burning coal plant can cost as much as $2 billion dollars. I agree with the eventual goal but I believe we need to take baby steps instead of trying to catch up with other countries’ “green plans” overnight. The burden of money on our economy in the shape that we are currently in would cripple us. If there was only one goal, like working on clean coal technology for a certain amount of time before working on the emission standards,  it would still be a benefit without completely overriding the system we’re currently in. To get the country of the wasteful standards in which we are already entrenched, we need to be gradual, yet persistent.

 http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20090217_obamas_energy_plan_trying_kill_three_birds_one_stone