Isra-Mart srl:Obama pledges renewed clean energy investment

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President Barack Obama used yesterday's State of the Union address to set the US on a course to producing 80 per cent of its electricity from "clean sources" by 2035, including renewables, nuclear power, clean coal and natural gas.

Although making no explicit mention of climate change or greenhouse gases – effectively removing emissions-capping legislation from the White House agenda – Obama did reiterate his call for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, worth around $4bn a year, winning cheers from Democrats.

The President said his forthcoming budget would divert this funding to invest in clean energy technology and new high-speed rail infrastructure, strengthening the nation's energy security, creating new jobs and better connecting the nation.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own," Obama said about oil company profits. "So instead of subsidising yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's.

"With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015," he said.

Obama also sought to bridge the gap with the Republicans, who have proved highly resistant to climate change policies since gaining the upper hand in Congress after the mid-term elections.

He proposed a freeze on discretionary domestic spending and a desire to reduce the deficit, but most notably incorporated nuclear, clean coal and gas into his clean energy target, urging bi-partisan action to achieve it.

"Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal and natural gas," he said. "To meet this goal, we will need them all and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen."

A few Republicans immediately dismissed this focus, claiming loosening restrictions on drilling for domestic oil would kick-start the economy.

"Thus far unfortunately, the signals that have come from this administration is they are trying to pick winners and losers, primarily in renewable energy," said Republican House Natural Resources committee chairman Doc Hastings. "I'm not opposed to renewables, but I think it's foolhardy for us to ignore all of the resources that we have."

And Hastings found unlikely allies in environmentalists, who strongly criticised Obama's grouping of nuclear, clean coal and gas in with "clean energy".

"President Obama says he wants to lead the country in clean energy innovation. Unfortunately, requiring more coal, nuclear power, and natural gas production is not leadership and is not innovation," said Friends of the Earth president Erich Pica.

Despite the opposition, Democrat strategist and New York Senator Chuck Schumer said energy legislation is on the agenda.

"I think that is a very likely thing that will come up rather soon," he told reporters after Obama's speech. "There are good grounds for an energy bill and there is good hope for some bipartisan co-operation on it."