Energy « Pro President Obama Blog

Going Forward

05/08/2012

2008

US Economic Meltdown

4.4 Million Jobs Loss

US Economy Spirals Down

2009 -2012

Jan 20, 2012 Senator Barack Obama takes the oath as President Of The United States of America

America starts to recover.

Today America’s auto industry is back.

Our enemy brought to justice by our greatest heroes.

Our troops are home from Iraq.

Instead of losing jobs America is creating jobs.

President Obama believes in America and fights for America.

We have more to do but we are coming back.

Because America’s greatness comes from a strong Middle Class.

Because you don’t quit and neither does he…

112 Comments | Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Immigration, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Tagged: Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Immigration, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Permalink
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Increasing Oversight & Cracking Down on Manipulation in Oil Markets

04/17/2012

End Oil Subsidies – An All-Of-The-Above Approach to American Energy

These days, we’re getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future. Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb. Only this time, it’s happening earlier. And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car; everyone who owns a business. It means you have to stretch your paycheck even further. Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.

You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices. If we’re going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more. We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks; in our buildings and plants. That’s the strategy we’re pursuing, and that’s the only real solution to this challenge.

Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America. That’s why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years. In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade. And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I’ve directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what’s going on in the oil markets.

President Obama 3/17/12 Weekly Address

Fact Sheet: Increasing Oversight and Cracking Down on Manipulation in Oil Markets

At a time when instability in the Middle East is contributing to rising global oil prices that impact consumers at the pump, it is critically important to give American families confidence that illegal manipulation, fraud and market rigging are not contributing to gas price increases.

President Obama has already taken significant action to step up oversight of oil markets and close dangerous loopholes that for too long allowed energy traders to operate in the shadows. Early on in the Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) moved to close the “Enron” and “London” loopholes, which previously allowed traders to evade oversight by using electronic and overseas platforms. Through Wall Street Reform, the President fought for new position limits to ensure that no single trader can manipulate oil markets and to enhance the CFTC’s anti-manipulation authorities. And at the President’s direction, the Attorney General has been working to ensure that enforcement agencies are exercising their full authorities through the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group. (See Appendix for full record).

Today, the Administration is going further – announcing new steps to strengthen oversight of energy markets while calling on congress to pass a package of measures that would deter illegal behavior and hold accountable those who manipulate markets for financial gain at the expense of consumers. Congress should act immediately on these measures to ensure that illegal manipulation by financial traders is not contributing to prices at the pump.

The President’s Five-Part Plan Includes:

1. Requesting Immediate Funding to Put More “Cops on the Beat” Overseeing Oil Markets

2. Funding Critical Technology Upgrades in the Oversight and Surveillance of Energy Market Activity

3. Substantially Increasing Civil and Criminal Penalties for Manipulation in Key Energy Markets

4. Empowering the CFTC to Raise Margin Requirements in Oil Futures Markets

5. Taking Immediate Steps to Expand Access to CFTC Data to Better Understand Trading Trends in Oil Markets

CRACKING DOWN ON MANIPULATION IN OIL MARKETS

Details of the Administration’s Five Part Plan:

1. Immediate Funding to Put More “Cops on the Beat” Overseeing Oil Markets

2. Critical Technology Upgrades in the Oversight and Surveillance of Energy Market Activity

3. Increased Civil and Criminal Penalties for Manipulation in Key Energy Markets:

4. New Authorities for the CFTC to Raise Margin Requirements in Oil Futures Markets

5. Immediate Steps to Expand Access to CFTC Data to Better Understand Trading Trends in Oil Markets

For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/17/fact-sheet-increasing-oversight-and-cracking-down-manipulation-oil-marke

Contact your legislator Contact your Congress person to pass a package of measures that deters illegal behavior in the oil market!

U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
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Seoul Nuclear Security Summit 2012

03/24/2012

Seoul Nuclear Security Summit 2012

March 26 ~ 27, 2012

Seoul, Republic of Korea

The 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Seoul in March 2012, will be the largest summit in the security field that discusses international cooperative measures to protect nuclear materials and facilities from terrorist groups, with participation from more than 50 heads of state and international organizations. The main issues to be discussed at the Summit will be as follows.

Cooperative measures to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism
Protection of nuclear materials and related facilities
Prevention of illicit trafficking of nuclear materials

Participants (source: 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit page)
Heads of 53 states which participated in the 1st Washington Nuclear Security Summit. (Republic of Korea, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam).

Heads of international organizations which participated in the Washington Summit (the UN, IAEA, and EU).

INTERPOL was added to the group of participants as agreed upon between the participating countries and international organizations.

For more information: http://www.thenuclearsecuritysummit.org/eng_main/main.jsp

107 Comments | Diplomacy, Energy, PBO | Tagged: Diplomacy, Energy, PBO | Permalink
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American Energy

03/20/2012

President Obama understands the that prices at the pump, driven by increased world oil prices, are too high and the impact this has on families and businesses on a tight budget. He also knows there’s no silver bullet to bring down the price at the pump. That is why he continues to invest in a sustained, all-of-the-above approach to American energy, increasing the efficiency of the vehicles we drive, investing in advanced technologies and alternative fuels, and expanding responsible domestic oil and gas production.

Obama Administration’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future

Develop and secure America’s energy supplies: We need to deploy American assets, innovation, and technology so that we can safely and responsibly develop more energy here at home and be a leader in the global energy economy. To get there, we need to:
- Expand Safe and Responsible Domestic Oil and Gas Development and Production
- Lead the World Toward Safer and More Secure Energy Supplies

Provide consumers with choices to reduce costs and save energy: Volatile gasoline prices reinforce the need for innovation that will make it easier and more affordable for consumers to buy more advanced and fuel-efficient vehicles, use alternative means of transportation, weatherize their homes and workplaces, and in doing so, save money and protect the environment. These measures help families’ pocketbooks, reduce our dependence on finite energy sources and help create good jobs here in the United States. So, we’re implementing policies that:
- Reduce Consumers Costs at the Pump with More Efficient Cars and Trucks
- Cut Energy Bills with More Efficient Homes and Buildings

Innovate our way to a clean energy future: Leading the world in clean energy is critical to strengthening the American economy and winning the future. We can get there by creating markets for innovative clean technologies that are ready to deploy, and by funding cutting-edge research to produce the next generation of technologies. And as new, better, and more efficient technologies hit the market, the Federal government needs to put words into action and lead by example. That’s why we need to:
- Harness America’s Clean Energy Potential so that 80 percent of electricity will come from clean energy sources by 2035
- Win the future through Clean Energy Research and Development
- Lead by Example so that the Federal Government models best practices and clean energy technologies

Read the full Blueprint (pdf).

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Record Judicial Diversity, Record Judicial Delays

01/05/2012

Creating a judicial pool for the 21st Century, one with intellect, fair-mindedness and integrity that resembles the nation that it serves, is a top priority for President Obama and his administration. In fact, the President’s nominations for federal judges embody an unprecedented commitment to expanding the racial, gender and experiential diversity of the men and women who enforce our laws and deliver justice.

Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice
confirmation date: 8/6/2009

Hon. Elena Kagan, Associate Justice
confirmation date: 8/7/2010

Unfortunately, the delays these nominees are encountering on Capitol Hill are equally unprecedented: earlier this month, the Senate left for its August recess without considering 20 eminently qualified candidates, 16 of whom had passed through the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee completely unopposed, a development the Washington Post called “not only frustrating but also destructive” in an editorial published yesterday.

The victims of these delays, of course, are the American citizens who are being denied the fair and timely judicial proceedings they deserve because of the chronic shortage of federal judges on the bench. Stephen Zack, president of the American Bar Association, told Senate leaders in a recent letter that the abundance of vacant federal judgeships “create strains that will inevitably reduce the quality of our justice system and erode public confidence in the ability of the courts to vindicate constitutional rights or render fair and timely decisions.”

75 Comments | Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Immigration, Legislation, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Tagged: Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Immigration, Legislation, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Permalink
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Fuel Economy Standards for Commercial Vehicles

08/09/2011

White House Announced First Ever Oil Savings Standards for Heavy Duty Trucks, Buses Saving $50 billion in fuel costs and over 500 million barrels of oil.

President Obama announced new fuel efficiency standards that will save American businesses that operate and own commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program. These work trucks, buses, and other medium- and heavy duty vehicleswill be required to meet fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for the first time ever beginning in 2014.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the standards in close coordination with the companies that met with the President today as well as other stakeholders, following requests from companies to develop this program.

“While we were working to improve the efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks, something interesting happened,” said President Obama. “We started getting letters asking that we do the same for medium and heavy-duty trucks. They were from the people who build, buy, and drive these trucks. And today, I’m proud to have the support of these companies as we announce the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium and heavy-duty trucks.”

The 2014-2018 fuel efficiency standards for trucks are designed to account for the different kind of work done by different kinds of trucks. Long haul trucks will save an average of 4 gallons for fuel for every 100 miles traveled. Heavy-duty pickups and vehicles like buses, delivery trucks, or vans would save one gallon for every 100 miles traveled. Altogether, we’re looking at saving a projected 530 million barrels of oil.

^{For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/09/secretary-lahood-50-billion-fuel-savings-significant-win-trucking-industry}

128 Comments | Economy, Energy, Legislation, PBO | Tagged: Economy, Energy, Legislation, PBO | Permalink
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Winning the Future with Fuel Efficient Automobiles

07/28/2011

On Friday, July 29th President Obama announces an national effort to improve fuel efficiency for new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The new U.S. fuel economy average will start with 2017 models and increases by the year 2025 cars to 54.5 mph (an increase of 5%); light trucks will increase by 3.5% + 5%. The price of the more fuel efficient automobiles will cost more but the savings in the amount of gasoline consumed will be an offset.

Ceres, a national coalition of investors and public interest organizations, released a report detailing what stronger fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards would mean for the U.S. economy. In the Ceres report titled “More Jobs Per Gallon” report it showed that President Obama’s new 54.5 mpg fuel efficiency standards we can expect:

* Approximately 484,000 new jobs in the United States by 2030.
* 43,000 of those would be full-time jobs in the auto sector.
* Consumers would save approximately $107 billion at the pump in 2030 compared to business as usual.
* 49 states would see net job gains.

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U.S. Debt Default By The Numbers

07/17/2011

The risk of a U.S. default: By the numbers

Jul 15, 2011 The Week – news.yahoo (Excerpts)

If Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will have to make some very tough choices.

It’s all coming down to the wire. If Congress and President Obama don’t reach a deal to raise the U.S. debt limit by early August, the government won’t be able to honor all of its financial obligations. The nation’s savings account would be essentially empty, and without the authority to borrow, Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would have to choose which bills to pay from incoming tax revenue — and which bills and obligations to ignore. “You can move the chess pieces around all you want,” says Jay Powell of the Bipartisan Policy Center, but “you’re going to lose.” How much? Here, a look at some numbers underpinning the debate:

$14.294 trillion – Current debt ceiling, reached May 16. Geithner has moved money around so the feds can continue paying the bills through Aug. 2, even though the nation’s legal borrowing limit has already been reached.

$80 million – Number of payments U.S. makes every month

$306.7 billion – Amount the U.S. is obligated to pay from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$172.4 billion – Amount of revenue the U.S will bring in from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

44 – Percentage of those August payments that would have to be immediately scrapped if no deal is reached

$29 billion – Interest payments on Treasury securities due to investors on Aug. 15

$49.2 billion – Social Security benefits to be paid from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$50 billion – Medicare and Medicaid benefits to be paid from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$31.7 billion – Payments to defense contractors due from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$12.8 billion – Unemployment benefits to be paid from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$2.9 billion – Active-duty military pay due from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$2.9 billion – Veterans Affairs program payments due from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$14.2 billion – Federal salaries and benefits due from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31

$12 billion – U.S. tax income expected to be received on Aug. 3

$32 billion – U.S. spending planned for Aug. 3 (including $23 billion in Social Security checks)

50 – U.S. credit rating within 90 days

7,000 – Number of top-rated municipal bonds Moody’s will automatically downgrade without a debt-ceiling deal

$130 billion – Amount of municipal debt affected by the Moody’s ultimatum

74 – Number of times the debt ceiling has been raised since 1962

10 – Number of times the debt ceiling has been raised since 2001

80 Comments | Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Tagged: Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Permalink
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President Obama challenges Congress: Stop the politics, Act now for the American people

06/29/2011

Highlights from President Obama’s June 29th press conference:

” There are a lot of folks out there who are still struggling with the effects of the recession. Many people are still looking for work or looking for a job that pays more. Families are wondering how they’d deal with a broken refrigerator or a busted transmission, or how they’re going to finance their kids’ college education, and they’re also worrying about the possibility of layoffs.

The struggles of middle-class families were a big problem long before the recession hit in 2007. They weren’t created overnight, and the truth is our economic challenges are not going to be solved overnight. But there are more steps that we can take right now that would help businesses create jobs here in America.

Today, our administration is trying to take those steps, so we’re reviewing government regulations so that we can fix any rules in place that are an unnecessary burden on businesses. We’re working with the private sector to get small businesses and start-ups the financing they need to grow and expand. And because of the partnership that we’ve launched with businesses and community colleges, 500,000 workers will be able to receive the right skills and training for manufacturing jobs in companies all across America — jobs that companies are looking to fill.

In addition to the steps that my administration can take on our own, there are also things that Congress could do right now that will help create good jobs“

* Congress can send me a bill that would make it easier for entrepreneurs to patent a new product or idea

* Congress can send me a bill that puts construction workers back on the job rebuilding roads and bridges

* Congress can advance a set of trade agreements that would allow American businesses to sell more of their goods and services to countries in Asia and South America

* Congress can extend the tax cut I signed for middle-class families in December for one more year.

* Congress can get rid of tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires; tax breaks for oil companies and hedge fund managers and corporate jet owners

“So the bottom line is this: Any agreement to reduce our deficit is going to require tough decisions and balanced solutions. And before we ask our seniors to pay more for health care, before we cut our children’s education, before we sacrifice our commitment to the research and innovation that will help create more jobs in the economy, I think it’s only fair to ask an oil company or a corporate jet owner that has done so well to give up a tax break that no other business enjoys. I don’t think that’s real radical. I think the majority of Americans agree with that.

So the good news is, because of the work that’s been done, I this we can actually bridge our differences. I think there is a conceptual framework that would allow us to make huge progress on our debt and deficit, and do so in a way that does not hurt our economy right here and right now.

And it’s not often that Washington sees both parties agree on the scale and the urgency of the challenge at hand. Nobody wants to put the creditworthiness of the United States in jeopardy. Nobody wants to see the United States default. So we’ve got to seize this moment, and we have to seize it soon. The Vice President and I will continue these negotiations with both leaders of both parties in Congress for as long as it takes, and we will reach a deal that will require our government to live within its means and give our businesses confidence and get this economy moving. “

President Obama 6/9/11

For the entire transcript: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/29/press-conference-president

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Contact your legislator NOW YOU CAN HELP BY CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATOR TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
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118 Comments | Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Tagged: Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Permalink
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Building the 21st Century Grid

06/12/2011

The White House will highlight efforts on building new transmission lines and applying digital technologies to the electric system to enable the clean energy economy, ensure a secure and reliable grid, and foster innovation and jobs of the future.

Building the 21st Century Grid

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