Congratulations to President-Elect Obama

EESI congratulates President-elect Barack Obama and looks forward to working with his new administration to address climate change, one of the most urgent and consequential challenges of our time. EESI and the Presidential Climate Action Project are holding a briefing on Thursday, November 13 to provide a comprehensive set of options to help solve the climate crisis. Details about this briefing are available here .

Throughout his campaign, President-elect Obama outlined an energy platform embracing several initiatives. He has called for the United States to fully engage once again in international climate negotiations and play a leadership role. He has supported an ambitious national cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with a full auction of emission allowances that would generate revenue to develop clean-energy technologies, increase efficiency, and aid the costs of transitioning to a low carbon economy. His campaign pledged to commit $150 billion over 10 years for renewable energy and efficiency technology investments. Regarding transportation, President-elect Obama has supported a wide range of measures, including ethanol and biodiesel, tax credits to the auto industry to retool their factories, improved fuel efficiency standards, and a $7,000 tax credit to consumers who buy "advanced technology" vehicles.

Obama’s energy positions also have included support of “clean coal” technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants and inject it underground. While initially opposing expansion of offshore oil-drilling, President-elect Obama later supported the measure but has continued to oppose drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He has remained open to nuclear energy, but has expressed concern over the disposal and storage of nuclear waste.