President Obama, speaking at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the work of Congress on energy legislation "must culminate" in its passage, the Washington Post reported. Obama was quoted as saying: "Such legislation can transform our energy system into one that is far more efficient, clean and independent -- making the best use of resources we have in abundance, through clean coal technology, safe nuclear power, sustainably grown biofuels and energy we harness from wind, waves and sun."
Obama said the nation's economy could thrive on green jobs and green technology, unless other countries were allowed to take the lead by inaction at home, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was quoted as saying: "From China to India, from Japan to Germany, nations everywhere are racing to develop new ways to produce and use energy. The nation that wins this competition will be the nation that leads the global economy. I am convinced of that. And I want America to be that nation."
Business leaders said passage of energy legislation would be crucial to getting the U.S. on track to lead the world in green energy development. Ralph Izzo, Chairman, President and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group, was quoted as saying: "Absent a clear national commitment to renewable [energy] and to greenhouse gas limits, we will continue to see the supply chain shift overseas, and the promise of the green economy could slip away."In the face of opposition from other business interests and some Congressional leaders, Obama warned, "There are those who will suggest that moving toward clean energy will destroy our economy when it's the system we currently have that endangers our prosperity and prevents us from creating millions of new jobs," the New York Times reported. The president added, "The closer we get, the harder the opposition will fight and the more we'll hear from those whose interest or ideology runs counter to action."
- Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 24; Associated Press, Los Angeles Times blog, Oct. 23.
