Energy was a common theme in the 2012 State of the Union address, and is an issue that affects mostly rural communities, because that's where extractive industries do most of their extracting. David Worthington of Smart Planet says the president mentioned energy at least 18 times during the hour-long speech. Juliet Eilperin of The Washington Post says Obama was seeking "middle ground" on energy issues by calling for an increase in natural gas and domestic oil production as well as investing more in renewable energy. (Smart Planet photo)Among the proposals Obama made were: opening more land for oil and gas exploration, investing in renewable energy sources, making drilling companies reveal chemicals used in drilling, providing more money for public research to advance energy production, developing clean energy on public lands, and wasting less energy to conserve more.
Steve Hargreaves of CNN Money reported domestic energy production has increased during Obama's term. Oil production is up 14 percent and gas is up by 10 percent from 2008. The administration has approved new drilling leases off the coast of Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico. In the speech, Obama called for the end of some oil-industry tax breaks, and for greater investment in wind and solar. Production from both has almost tripled since 2008, though both remain a small part of overall energy production. Renewable projects flourished largely because of economic-stimulus grants, which ran out last year. Renewables promoters want industry tax credits extended, and the president in his speech called for such credits to be passed to "create these jobs." (Read more)
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