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BOULDER CITY, NV – President Obama touted solar energy as an “industry on the rise” and condemned Republican skeptics of this power source in his first stop on a nationwide energy tour.
“This is an industry on the rise. It’s a source of energy that’s becoming cheaper. And more and more businesses are starting to take notice,” Obama said, noting that 16 solar projects have been approved on public land since he took office.
But, standing in front of a vast field of solar panels set against a Nevada mountain skyline, Obama criticized those politicians who he said “make jokes” about alternative energy.
Using a new favorite catch phrase for lawmakers he considers outdated, Obama said, “If these people were around when Columbus set sail, they’d be charter members of the Flat Earth Society.”
The president toured the Copper Mountain photovoltaic facility in Boulder City, Nevada – the largest of its type in the country – before making his remarks, which were intended to highlight one pillar of his “all-of-the-above” energy strategy.
The Copper Mountain solar panel site was constructed in 2010 and produces enough solar energy to power more than 17,000 homes, according to plant’s owner company Sempra Generation. Most of the homes it powers are in Southern California, not Nevada.
While the bulk of the project was financed with private money, it did receive about $40 million in federal tax credits – the sort of funding Obama said the federal government should continue to provide in order to jump-start emerging industries.
He acknowledged, however, that such government investments sometimes do not pay off – an indirect reference, perhaps, to the Solyndra solar power company that went bankrupt in 2011 despite receiving $535 million in federal stimulus loan guarantees.
“Each successive generation recognizes that some technologies are going to work, some won’t; some companies will fail, some companies will succeed,” Obama said.
But he likened such failures to the trail-and-error of now-established industries like automobiles and airplanes, which he noted once were both fledgling technologies themselves.
“Not every auto company succeeded in the early days of the auto industry. Not every airplane manufacturer succeeded in the early days of aviation.”
Obama also compared the Copper Mountain solar facility to an earlier federal energy project – the Hoover Dam, for which Boulder City, just 20 minutes away, was originally constructed as a suburb for dam builders during the 1930s.
“Eight decades ago, in the midst of the Great Depression, the people of Boulder City were busy working on another energy project that you may have heard of. Like today, it was a little bit ahead of its time,” Obama said, referring to the dam. “Even today it stands as a testimony to American ingenuity, American imagination and the power of the American spirit.”
Perhaps coincidentally, Obama’s praise of the Hoover Dam came just days after the government-funded project was mentioned by Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney as an example of the kind of large-scale construction projects America is capable of.
“We once built the interstate highway system and the Hoover Dam. Today, we can't even build a pipeline,” Romney said Monday in Illinois, referring to the stalled northern portion of the Keystone oil pipeline.
(Obama’s energy tour is not considered by the White House to be an official campaign jaunt.)
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dahhhh....The republicans are totally controlled by the oil industry ..If they buck the bribes stop ..Which means the congress and the senate members would have to find a real job ..Most of these clowns are people who couldn't get a job in the real world .They would be fired the first week ..Look at that Ryan guy still trying to shove that plan down the people throats ..It stunk last year and still stinks ..It protects the wealthy and screws the middle class and the poor .
SOLAR: It is well-known that solar energy has made enough technological advances that it is highly competitive with traditional energy sources.
Now it needs to be funded and implemented on a larger scale. In its own interests, Big Energy has to do that because oil is finite.
Global oil is peaking or has peaked, with the more accessible oil all but gone. Tar Sands remain, but they are extracted at great cost and come with massive pollution problems.
We must invest in solar, wind and all the benign energies without delay. China and other large growing countries will compete with us tooth and nail for those markets.
Don't be fooled by the Big Oil lobbyists.
Poor Obama I almost feel sorry for him.
If he keeps digging his hole any deeper he may hit oil!
Rob, solar is the ultimate renewable resource, and before you ask, yes I use it. Don't worry though; if we don't invest in producing affordable solar, the Chinese are more than willing to take the lead. Is that what you would prefer?
Chucky,
Good evening! Are you trying to tell me that oil won't last forever? That there is no endless supply? Ah, the horror of it all! :)
The sun will always shine Phine, at least for another 10 billion or so years. Oil, well, doesn't make for a very tasty shrimp dip.
So true, Chucky, so true. In my part of the world, lots of folks try to use solar wherever and whenever they can. Part of that "sunshine state" thing I guess!
In years from now when the tech makes it worthwhile ,companies and people will profit from it! Untill then when it is BIG GOVERNMENT throwing taxpayer money to these unproved ideas while trying to shut down the ways we have used energy and improved all aspects of it , I say we need jobs now! Puke oBAMA takes credit for everything positive though he had nothing to do with it like the so-called drilling production, yet he comes up with an excuse for every thing negative fom Bush, to the arab spring! No hussain oBAMA or socialist lib moocher democrats in 2012!
Au contraire Monsieur Rob,
The President saved us from falling down an EVEN MORE GIANT hole created by right wing policies and greed over the last 30 years. Our GDP fell to -8.9% (Minus 8.9%) in the fourth quarter of 2008 and we lost 8 million jobs.
The U.S. economy is recovering with almost FOUR million jobs created over the last 2 years under President Obama. The Auto industry is BACK with GM #1 in the world.
All with ZERO help from GOP/Koch congressionals who pledged to block our recovery every step of the way. And a GOP Senate that filibustered at 3 times the pace ever seen in American history. Deep down somewhere, Leader McConnell knows that 60 votes needed for everything in a great time of need is nothing short of treasonous.
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/06/china-development-bank-finances-ldk-spi-solar-international-expansion-plans/
Good news Thunder. Apparently there is money to be made by US solar companies. Unfortunately, they're being funded by, you guessed it, the Chinese. Do you really want the US to take a back seat in alternative energy?
Chucky,
We, as a people, have to WANT to change the system (getting off oil). Until that happens, and it may be too late for American innovation to take the lead, people will just keep whining about oil and gas prices, their blinders firmly in place. Once this country led the world in technology and new innovative ideas. We are fast losing that spirit that led to those new technologies and innovations.
Make no mistake about doubters of all things solar, this is the modern equivalent to the race to the moon. We need to lead, follow, or get out of the way. I would prefer that we lead, that we get the advantages that come with innovation and creativity.
Phine, I hope that spirit still exists. It is much needed.
Power plants are already using renewable energy from solar to wind to geothermal--a large percent of electricity is already being provided in this way. Technology that may not be as cost effective or easy to implement as individuals does not mean there is no immediate value to the power grid overall.
We may harness the oceans waves, and even landfills can create methane to operate recycling plants. Not to mention natural gas in the interim, which burns much cleaner than oil, and we have lots of it (we just need to extract it without fracking).
The Chinese have been manufacturing wind turbines, and why the president wants the US to get going with things like batteries, etc. because we should be making and exporting this technology. Anyone who is still for "drill baby drill" has no vision (and is a thunder, er dunderhead).
The south-facing slope of my roof catches the abundant California sun almost all day, and I live at 1,600 feet, often above the marine layer that can cover the LA basin. Plenty of space on the back patio to house batteries and an inverter and still leave room for the grill and outdoor furniture. Ideal solar candidate, especially in the summer when that south exposure heats the house up and the air conditioning bills rise with the mercury. Sign me up!
However....
My HOA does not allow solar cell banks, and quite frankly, I agree, they are an incredible eyesore. Even with government perks solar is too expensive. I realize justification can be made for the long term financial benefits, but the start-up is just too much. As good as solar power at Casa Mark would be it is not going to happen. That's unfortunate because none of this really has anything to do with technology. I am sure with a little effort someone could develop a solar cell that looks like a terra-cotta roof tile, therefore removing atheistic concerns - imagine that, your entire roof a solar power supply! Why not?
I think the simple fact is the market is just not ready, and a lot of that is a perception problem. When the market is ready, solar will take off. It is a waste for the government to be pouring money into solar when at present enough of a market to sustain the development just does not exist. When there is a market, private industry responding to consumer demand will provide the impetus to develop far more effectively than any government program. Also, I believe the true, viable future of solar is just as I described above - roofs that are solar cells in individual buildings - not big arrays like Copper Mountain.
It is going to take a long time to get off fossil fuels, and as much as we would like to see a smooth transition I don't see that happening, not in our lifetime. Our entire infrastructure is built around oil and coal, and fossil fuels are still relatively inexpensive and available. We are comfortable with oil. In reality environmental concerns are just too abstract for most people to consider as a real, practical motivating factor in making the big changes necessary to effect real separation from fossil fuels. The political rhetoric, especially in an election year, just muddles things.
In summary, I believe real progress in the development of alternate energy sources must come not from government but from the private sector, and for the private sector to run with it there has got to be a market (it's all about the money, after all....), and the market is you and me.
As we progress in terms of a race not just one civilization then in order to move past reliance on fossil fuels. If we continued to research and develop solar energy we would move a great leap in terms of technological development. It is the ultimate source of renewable energy.
Let's talk about the $513B he gave to a solar company in CA that then went Bankrupt. Taxpayers are still paying that bill, because of a President that doesn't do his homework.
Skip, if you don't see the potential of these technologies, there is just no hope for you. Seriously. I mean, nobody can actually be that stupid.
@skipster Let's talk about the hundreds of billions of dollars over the years, our government has subsidized oil corporations and barons! Homework... you need a special education tutor.
To think that energy industries pop-up and work miraculously without problems is patently superficial. No industry gains momentum without failure... Exxon Valdez, etc. Who was responsible for the HOMEWORK then?
I understand you have internet access but what happened to your responsibility to provide your own research? Sheesh!
Nobody is saying solar is a bad idea, it's a great idea in the right place. The issue is with Obama giving gobs of tax payer cash to a company that promptly went out of business. Clearly that 500+ mil was a payoff of somesort and needs to be investigated.
It's a great idea in any place. This whole swift boat campaign against alternative energy due to one company's problems is just a smoke screen for more senseless anti Obama rhetoric.
I swear, you can almost watch a few pundits lead the herd on these non-issues.
This tech must flourish here or we will again find ourselves behind the rest of the civilized world. Ever since Reagan jerked the solar collectors off the White House roof, the EXACT opposite of what we should have been doing at the time, we have suffered this insane addiction to oil and oil protection rackets through media manipulation and corporate welfare.
We really need to stop, change direction, and move forward. Those of us fighting this need to stop, come to the aid of their country, and stop sabotaging progress.
It is vital to our future as a nation.
Solar might not be very effective in Alaska in the winter time or in places that get alot of rain. And so far nothing has the energy density that oil has. So i stand by my statment that solar is a great idea (and needs further development) in most places.
Solar mignt not be very effective in Alaska in winter time, or in places that get a lot of rain. So far nothing has the energy density of oil. So i stand by my (slightly modified) statment that solar is a great idea (that needs further development) in the right place.
So? What does that have to do with supporting solar tech now? Do you honestly feel that since a few places are more suited to other renewable sources like wind, or hydro that we should just look away and coddle oil some more? Really?
The combination of passive and active solar systems right now, to the standard home, no matter where it is, is beneficial to it's efficiency and therefore cost. Simply doing the first step in passive solar home building, aligning the home to the sun and super insulating, does more than you can obviously imagine in heating and cooling costs.
Stop believing the bs about solar tech. It works, it always has and modern active systems like photovoltaics just make it better.
(Obama’s energy tour is not considered by the White House to be an official campaign jaunt.)
Of course not, because then he'd have to pay for it. This way, the taxpayers pick up the cost.
Jim, I didnt say we should stay on oil. I agree with you in that we need to reduce our dependency on oil and stop funding our enemy by having to buy oil from them. But solar and other renewables need more research and work to be efficient.
I find it interesting that you are not concerned about Obama's contribution to a failed company and the possibility that something illegal happened there. Thats 500 million that could have gone to REAL research and development and not just line some supporters pockets with tax payer money.
That is why renewables need subsidies and oil does not.
Interesting huh? In what way? I don't dwell on it because there are much bigger fish to fry. Like continuing to find viable companies to support. I find it interesting that some people want to use that example as a reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater in every single discussion about renewables or EVs.
Illegal? Who knows, were the bailouts illegal? Anybody gonna own up to it? There is truckloads of crap that every single administration does and gets away with. What would you like me to do about it? What are you doing other than using it as a way to disparage the President without any real knowledge of the facts?
You think our media gives you the facts? Really?
All I know for sure is that the tech works. I use it everyday. More and more people need to as well. That has been the important message hidden since Carter. We need to stop misdirecting and get on course here.
That is what is important.
One million solar panels to produce enough power for 17,000 homes. We don't have enough land in this country for that meager return. Has anyone in Washington given any consideration as to how all the illegals will be expected to get through that sort of maze?
The other thing for you guys touting that China will take the solar lead if we don't...UH...aren't they investing in oil? Isn't that what Obama says is making prices go UP, along with Iran?
What ever happened to Hydrogen Fuel Cells? Or collecting the methane gas from all the farting cows? Any movement toward a working transporter yet? I heard you could drive a car on water. Doesn't anyone want to go back to riding a bicycle or a scooter? The push type scooter of course.
I am pretty sure algae is the future of driving in this country. After all Obama is bound to pick a winner someday, hopefully. It would be a shame to think that after he leaves office his legacy will be one of simply wasting more taxpayer dollars then all previous presidents combined. But I am sure the generations of the next several centuries will be happy to pick up the tab.
Backhouse,
Next time you bring up 4th quarter 2008, make sure you know what the Congressional makeup was at that time, ok? 49-49 in Senate, then 1 changed to Dem, though BOTH voted with Dems. House was 233-198 from 2007-2009, roughly...
SO I guess it makes sense that when Dems controlled Congress Obama BLAMED Bush, as do Libs/Dems...
When Obama becomes President and Dems controlled CONGRESS, he blames BUsh, but when Republicans take House, in 2010, it's NOW 1/2 of Congress fault. No go back to stuttering, as the facts prove you wrong. SHHHH
Simply put: We need to invest billions in renewable energy. I once heard back in 2011 (or 2010?) that it would require only 10,000 square miles to power the entire United States. That is essentially 0.3% of the entire US. I would say that it would be possible to power the entire United States from the Southwest; we could even export energy via transnational wires to Canada. Simply put; America is ideal for renewable energy, as we are perfectly balanced with the hot and sunny West Coast (solar), the windy Midwest and the East (wind), a few dozen suitable waterfalls (hydro), and oceans and rivers surrounding us. Imagine a five-year, $300 billion project in which the federal, state, and local governments partner up with the private sector to build massive arrays of solar panels in the Mojave and Sonora Deserts, endless stretches of wind turbines in the Midwest and the East Coast, and dozens of hydro-plants in rivers and lakes all over this great land; not to mention using natural gas to supply all this. That would create millions of jobs and boost the economy tremendously. America has the power, the technology, and the resources and manpower to do this; all we need are the funds (easily accessed by a tax on millionaires or cuts from unnecessary programs) and the willpower.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Plus anyone who denounces algae is an idiot. Algae is rich in petroleum, and can easily become a source of energy for airlines, harbors, and ships, simply by creating chains of algae farms all along the coastlines.
Palm Springs - what a dum-dum you are claiming Republicans are controlled by the oil industry.
Think about your moronic comment. You got it backwards consumers control the oil industry because they make something we all want - gas.
Republicans are backing those consumers by wanting to produce more and the argument that won't lower prices is BS.
We could produce enough oil for our own needs and more that we could dump on the world market at lowball prices which would screw OPEC and drive world prices lower.
Hey Worm, if you think President Obama should be investigated for giving 500 mil to a solar power company that went bankrupt what do you think should be done to the republican party for all the wasted money they are giving to the big oil companies?? One year the big oil companies made 8 trillion dollars,the next year they made 13 trillion, that dates back to the year President Obama was elected, they make in the trillions every year, and with all that money the republican party still subsidizes them to the tune of 2 to 4 hundred million each year. In President Obama's first term they have been given almost a billion dollars, and this has been going on for decades. So Worm, think the republican party should be investigated?? Some people are penny wise, but dollar foolish.
Funny, I always thought these two were democrats.
Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich Defend Oil Companies Against Democrats
Freshieee
You may want to start working with the environmentalists now if you want to get all that approved before hell freezes over.
.
Is this your summarization of the Republican Energy Policy, if you remove anything to do with Big Oil? It seems to be a pretty complete list except that you forgot to mention the one location that they seem to keep obsessing over. Women's uterus'. For all their focus on that, there has to be some sort of energy or jobs there, right?
well, I can't comment on that. I'm a man. But , my wife did say "that's a bunch of BULL@!$%#"
Hmmm......an aborted fetus powered car.....Let's see, there's no shortage, we wouldn't be dependent on the Arabs, no lines at the electric car charging station, no pipelines (except the ones running out of the Planned Parenthood buildings), you might have something.
Believe it or not, solar energy is the next step, for our country,. And the wind, and the tides. you don't have to be a scientist to figure that out! Big Oil is going to try to keep us from developing new technology
We have lots of new technology but they the "oil company's" buy it and shelf it so it cant be used!
why don't you run your 72 volvo on your new technology, lib? See how far Obamabull@!$%# will get you. Have you rigged your supersafe volvo for "sail" yet libby???
fuzzy,
Mr. p has found a web site to build a solar powered generator that one could use after a hurricane. He is looking into that.
So Bob, just outta curiosity, are you for absolutely no research into alternative energy technologies at all? Not even a little bit?
Chucky,
In reading all of this Bob's posts I detect a lot of anger pent up inside. Maybe some anger management might be in order?
If it is a good idea, it will pay for itself! This puke of a president and administration does not have a clue to how to jumpstart employment unless it is their real goal to turn us into a third world nation! No puke oBAMA or socialist lib moocher democrats in 2012!
Thunder, and yet Chinese companies are going full bore into alternative energy.
http://www.investorideas.com/CO/SLMU/news/2012/03211.asp
Just sit back, I'm sure the Chinese will take good care of you.
I watch a lot of HGTV. I especially enjoy House Hunters International. Quite a few of the homes they show on there use solar. And cisterns. A lot of these types of homes are almost completely off the grid and are in countries like Ecuador, Belize and Panama. If they can do it, why can't we?
Phine,
The countries you named are for the most part off the grid, because their infrastructure is crap. The average citizen in these countries have spotty electricity no clean water. Wells are hard to dig in these countries. So cisterns capture the clean rain water during the rainy seasons. But keeping the water clean and drinkable during the dry season is a problem.
In tourist areas the major hotels, resorts and gated communities do employ the latest technology to provide electricity, water and proper waste treatment for their residents.
Northstar,
The houses they were looking at (remember they are selling to Americans) had water treatment to go with. And yes, they also show the gated communities, but the ones I was referring to were very nice and very intriguing. Especially the one that was all solar powered, had a satellite system, cistern, water treatment and fruit trees. It is but an example what we could try to do here. We just have to want to try.
Hey, Northstar and Chucky. Thank you for the kind words last week.
Mark in SoCal above is right. We need to develop solar power technology, but the technology that's being developed right now is too expensive.
Unlike the private sector, the government doesn't tend to care much about costs, quality and affordability. As long as the government throws our money at solar, the solar companies have no incentive to make an affordable, efficient product. Based on that, the government's involvement alone will lengthen the time we have to wait for a viable technology.
Candice,
You are welcome.
Government, both state and federal, does play a role in research and development, tax incentives for fledgling companies to develop new energy technology. Private sector cannot do it alone.
Here in MN wind power is a growing source of electrical energy. It is still in its infancy but growing. We as a country need to promote all forms of alternative energy for the future.
Chucky (and those who made comments such as yours): you're absolutely correct!
Solar power IS the next step! We need to push it. It's possible sooner than most people think it is. Oil is finite. The sun isn't (at least, not for a LONG, LONG time).
Kennedy said this country needed to strive to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade (1960's). "We" did exactly that. I don't see why this country can't at least get a good percentage of our power from solar energy by 2020. Determination and effort will do it... OH--I forgot, however, that Big Oil and the Republicans will do whatever it takes to stop the U.S. from doing exactly that.
It is the democrats that are subsidizing big oil.
Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich Defend Oil Companies Against Democrats
I'm glad FR is finally covering the President after months of all Republicans, all the time.
How much money has it made or lost in the last three years Mr. President?? OUR MONEY NOT YOURS YOU FRIGGEN MORON!!!!!!! HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU LOST OF THE TAXPAYERS?????
When is this Country going to get rid of this imposter to the white house and elect a real president??????????????????????????
When this affirmative action loser isn't embarrasing this Nation, he's busy bankrupting it!!!!!
bob - Now you're showing your true colors!
Are you liberals going to put up someone with at least the minimum leadership talent to run against this MORON this year????? I guess not because your are so stupid yourselves ( too bad for our Country)
bob - When is the last time the incumbent party put someone up to run against their own candidate? This question MUST be rhetorical!
Another reason for promoting solar power is that it is virtually endless because if there is no more sun we all perish and won't need the energy any more anyway. We also won't be buying things from countries that hate us. As a leader we can SELL the technology to other countries instead of buying from them.
Hoover Dam was part of the WPA of the New Deal era and is now continuing to provide energy and jobs for thousands of people about 80 years later.
President Obama is correct when he says that some companies make it some fail. Unfortunately Solyndra failed. One reason is they were up against Chinese companies that could produce the same product for a lot less. Had we equalized the playing field by slapping tariffs on the Chinese solar products Solyndra might still be up and running. Newer, lighter, more efficient solar collectors have been created that would have required Solyndra to make more major changes in their production lines.
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Extracting it with current technology is difficult and expensive but with some well-financed R & D we can make cars that will go cross country on one fill up of the tank. That has already been done but with costs that would be too much for the average driver. Research has been done at UCLA, Sandia Labs, and Lawrence Livermore Lab in Hydrogen to provide private power plants for homes and businesses (no more overhead lines), to operate cars, trains, airplanes and water craft. Solar requires transmission lines. There is also wind power where places with above average levels of wind such as mountain gaps, sea coasts or in Chicago where they could join solar panels (which don't do well in snow) to provide energy for the building. The wind power generator needn't be very big if used for only one highrise or smaller building.
Oil and coal were wonderful fuels to start and carry us through the industrial revolution but just like horses and buggies there is no longer a need for them and they must be phased out. Technology has gone ahead far enough to make the switch before we run out totally. We can spend our own oil and natural gas as a transitional fuel until we get the new technologies up and running. A lot of money can be made here, folks. President Obama is well aware of this but some of his detractors obviously are happy with the end of the 19th to begining of the 20th Century. I have news for them it is now well into the 21st Century and what worked before is no longer useful. Just like cars replaced horses and carts modern tech. energy will carry us through much of this Century and into the next.
How much taxpayer money did this moron lose, eagle??????? How much money did his cronies make??????????????????????????????? How quickly can a ex president be indicted, found guilty of fraud and thrown in prison?????
Give us that information, libby. That that would be helpful.
Now here's a clear problem. We have baldeagle at #9, with a very reasonable and detailed comment about the current state of solar tech, some historical context, and why we (desperately, I think) need it. Whether completely correct or otherwise, it's the sort of thoughtful comment Newsvine/msnbc needs more of.
Right under that we have bob at #9.1 who calls the parent a "libby" and is generally angry and typing long streams of ?s ("???????????????????????????????"), after he posted four similar non-reply comments on a row. Yes, Solyndra didn't do well, and probably did some shady stuff in the corporate environment, and those are bad things; I don't think they are worth making nine flames over, nor do I agree that Obama is an "imposter" to his office.
bob, you should really think about taking a break for a good while, maybe a day or two from these comment thingies, and think about the difference here. I don't know if any of it is report-worthy, but enraged comments like those are neither helpful nor funny, and probably a sign that you need help.
I'll Gladly second that Game Kid, all the hatred this Bob clown spews is nauseating and should be banned, I have never seen him post anything of substance just spew hatred. Take a pill Bob or go see a doctor or something and quit bothering us.
Bald Eagle I have just two words for you. Thank you.
Everytime I read the posts bob-2579213 You always have something negative and to be honest childish to say. LOL!
but you belive what i'm saying and you know it, "Jarrod"
Tell me ..."Jarrod" are you better off today since this incompetent ""Community Organizer" has been degrading the office of the presidency??
jarrod,
Bob with numbers likes to talk to himself . Let him be...
Bob you are the man!
What has this skinny assed big eared moron done for this country since he's become president??? Has he helped the price of gas? $1.83 when he took office....where is it now Jarrod????? The only thing this moron has done in a positive manner is to stem the tide of illegal immigration because he's singlehandely killed more jobs in this country than are available in Mexico!!!!
The worst president of the United States.... a one term loser who's only accomplishment will be to make another loser, Jimmy Carter, look presidential by comparison!!!!
I guess when you 've never had a real job that you actually went out and obtained for yourself because you had a rich daddy communist(Gerge Soros) paying the bills all the time, you don't worry about spending taxpayer money to pay off your election debts in losing enterprises. Enterprises that you knew would fail, Right President Affirmative Action?
God, I never thought I would say this, but the Country would have been better off if it had elected Hilary Clinton. She's at least competent!
Robert De Niro doesn't have to comprise who and what he is, There is plenty of people to vote for President that aren't Democrats or Republicans, Roseanne Barr for President 2012 RoseanneForPresident
How many more "green companies will bite the dust at a burden to our children and grandchildren? 6 million per job is not a good deal oBAMA! But as long as you get you campaign slush fund money, I guess it is ok.
bama and his thugs don't care about you or me or our children. They don't care about jobs or anything else for that matter. three words- voting isn't working
The price of gas will punch obama's ticket out of the White House.
Thank God!!
Bob, just ignore obama's sheeple.
republicans act like oil and nat gas are the only sources of energy. obama hasnt stopped production of those fossil fuels. there are more oil rigs working in the us than the rest of the world combined. we have to find new sources and focus on that. its time to join the 21st century americans and lead the charge.
pittsburg,,,look at tht tech that has improved with natural gas and oil in the last 25 years alone. We just ask that before it is regulated, taxed, condemed, shutdown and made to break the financial back of the American taxpayer, we should let the private market like in oil, run the exploration of "green technology" instead of costing the taxpayer 6 million a job and when it is profitable, it will sell on it's own! We do not need these stupid moves that this president makes that jams $4-$6 a gallon of gas! All this is doing is providing the presidents campaign slush fund "bunglers" wasted taxpayer money and by the looks of it, we cannot afford that now!
So, the exploration of solar power is causing the the gas prices to rise to $4-$6 dollars? That this technology is providing campaign slush fund "bunglers" ... a perhaps you mean "bundlers" of wasted taxpayer funds?
By the same token... won't solar energy technology improve the same, if not more than natural gas and oil has in the last 25 years with development?
Last time I checked, the private market in natural gas and oil is subsidized by government. So, what is the difference?
the oil industry has nearly all politicians in their pockets. It doesn't matter what you think about solar, as long as there are politicians, oil will rule. I used to think solar was the way to go, still do, just not in my lifetime. I have led a pretty blessed life and I feel bad for this next generation cause mine was so greedy and corrupt. It doesn't matter what you think or say, until we boot those bums out oil is going to suck the life from this planet. When I was young gas was 20 cents a gallon. What the hell happened
I don't know of many companies in the energy business that aren't investing in Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Natural Gas, Coal, and things we don't even know about. People with far more experience, knowledge, education, and success in the energy business than Obama.
Obama won a popularity contest in 2008. That hardly qualifies him to pick the winners and losers in the energy business. He's going to find that out in November.
He would have been far better off letting people that know what they are doing, do what they know, and he could just keep on pointing that blame finger at everyone he doesn't agree with.
But instead, he chose to interfere in an industry he knows absolutely nothing about.
We'll see how that works out for him. I understand he's heading for Cushing, Oklahoma today so he can pizz backwards on the Keystone Pipeline and try to take credit for construction he did everything he could to stop.
That ought to get Darryl Hannah's panties in a wad.
$1.84 when Pres. Obama took Office. $3.84 yesterday. He can not pass blame to anyone, as he is in charge and has been for 3.5 years. Rising gas prices are also reflected in rising food, consumer good and everything else prices. This is an ELECTION year and he of all people must know, "It's the Economy Stupid!"
Solar technology is still to new to be cost efficient on a large scale so we need oil as as bridge while developing and perfecting solar power. Government wants to end subsidies to big oil; we need to end subsidies to solar, ethanol and big oil then let the free market decide.
Spain and several othe rEurpean countries have invested heavily in green energy and for every green job created two traditional jobs disappeared.
Backhouse
"The U.S. economy is recovering with almost FOUR million jobs created over the last 2 years under President Obama. The Auto industry is BACK with GM #1 in the world."
Better take your blinders off. You seem to think everthing is getting better. Stop living in the Fantasy world you are in and get facts.
It is good that things are improving in some areas. Do not lose sight that in the majority of areas, things are still far worse than when Pres. Obama took over. GWB was tortured over high gas prices, and he did something that worked and they greatly lowered. BHO was going to "cut the deficit in half in my first term." So he gets a pass? "Pass the Stimulus and unemployment won't go over 8%." Another pass? Double digit increase in Food Stamps, now at 43.6 million people. Yet another pass? I'll stop for now and let you digest, if you haven't puked already. "It's the Economy Stupid!"
Dahly, get your facts straight... there is a reduction in food stamp usage under Obama. George W. Bush is the reigning Food Stamp President enrollment monarch. I know you'd prefer to eat the red meat from Gingbitch... but you're wrong. If you were truthful, you'd know there was no pass needed there.
Unemployment is decreasing by the month... you want a magic trick that even your boy McCan't, if he were elected, couldn't let fly without invoking war with a middle eastern country. No Pass needed there either!
Gas prices... so you now are telling me that GWB... Mr. laissez faire President of all-time DID SOMETHING to make the gas prices fall? Just like your kind credits Ronald Reagan with economic leadership when his policy was VOO DOO economics with Nancy Reagan consulting her ouija board.
Give me a break... the now campaigning Republicans have no phucking plan whatsoever and never had on in 30 damn years. Now all of a sudden you think that standing by the wayside and complaining about birth control and calling women sluts will be viewed as leadership?
Republicans have never had any plan except DECEPTION! They are the DECEPTICONS of the 21st Century!
Bush's plan to reduce the price of Gas.
Tank the economy by the collapse of the Financial Markets.
Good Job!
ther e is no defense of solar enegy... their is no defense to use food to put inour gas tanks... all ideas that were they not financed by the taxpayers would have been shoveled into the sewer a long time ago...
the chevy volt??? average income of a volt driver is $175,000 a year and taxpayers are subsidizing this.????
"under my plan of crap and trade electricity costs will necessarily skyrocket" didn'y you people here this?
Don't be so fast to write off that Volt as a bad decision which you seem to think isn't affordable to the average Joe. I used to think that about VCRs when they first came out and cost about a grand and were bulky as hell. It wasn't too many years later they got smaller, easier to program and now are being replaced by newer technology. That's what happens when you move forward in your thinking and embrace science instead of dismissing anything you don't agree with or understand.