79 percent of Americans say Obama will protect the environment; recap on climate change legislation

A Gallup poll revealed that 79 percent of Americans say that President Barack Obama “will do a good job protecting the country’s environment”, receiving 95% support from Democrats, 75% from independents and 65% from Republicans. The poll prompted an excellent roundup article from the UK’s Guardian on emission stndards, fuel-economy standards and energy and efficiency measures in the stimulus package. The Administration is aiming at an 83 percent reduction of greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2050, with cap-and-trade legislation expected to pas this year.

Also, Mondaq.com is publishing an excellent weekly recap of progress on climate change policy both at the federal and state level.

Bob Dineen of the Renewable Fuels Association issued the following statement regarding the creation of the Biofuels Interagency Working Group that will bring together EPA, the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture:

“President Obama is making clear once and for all that biofuels are critical to the nation’s economic, environmental and energy strength. Investments in biofuels, like ethanol, are creating green jobs here at home, reducing America’s foreign oil dependence, and helping to meet our environmental goals. We are confident that this working group will further spur the momentum generated by America’s existing biofuels industry and deliver the promising next generation of biofuel technologies that are so close to commercialization.

“America’s ethanol industry faces an unprecedented set of opportunities as well as challenges. Revolutionary new technologies that turn once thought of waste materials into renewable fuel are very close at hand. These technologies will create the kind of economic and green job opportunities, as well as provide cleaner solutions to petroleum use, that President Obama desires. Yet, uncertainty remains for many of these technologies as unproven science and questionable logic are being used to penalize existing biofuel producers for carbon emissions occurring halfway around the globe for reasons that may have little, or nothing, to do with US biofuel production.

“The RFA fully supports the steps President Obama is taking and pledges to work with this administration to realize the full potential of a robust and diverse American biofuels industry.”

Also in Washington, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced recently that the Department would invest $15 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund 55 projects that will reduce hazardous fuels on thousands of acres of federal land to protect communities at risk from wildland fires, support local economies and rehabilitate ecosystems damaged by wildfire. The funding is part of $3 billion Interior is investing in the nation’s economy under President Obama’s recovery plan.

The final selection criteria ensured project planning and environmental compliance work was complete or substantially complete and that projects have the potential to provide additional economic benefits to support local or regional employment through post-treatment use of biomass in wood products or power generation.

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