WATCH LIVE: Obama Lays Out Renewable Energy Plan

President Obama is in Iowa on Earth Day to discuss his vision for a renewable energy future.

The visit to the state that launched him on the road to the White House comes as Obama's energy legislation has slowed in Congress, with skeptical Republicans and some Democrats from coal-producing states fearing the plan will increase costs for consumers, send jobs overseas and hurt businesses.

In financially struggling Newton, Iowa, Obama planned to tour -- then highlight -- Trinity Structural Towers wind energy plant as a model for job creation and energy production in a town whose biggest employer was sold and then stopped operations.

WATCH LIVE at 1:55 PM ET:

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Comments

[Mikeeee]

"skeptical Republicans and some Democrats from coal-producing states fearing the plan will increase costs for consumers, send jobs overseas and hurt businesses." ROTFLMAO!!!! as if!! They couldn't give a fiddlers frig about anything except keeping the coal mines open.

[jake1492]

Making oil more expensive (with the carbon cap) will reduce oil demand and oil prices. That is good because because it it less money and power to less friendly countries (Venezuela, Iran, Russia). It also reduces: reliance on a vital resource with insecure supply lines that will eventually all be used up, the trade deficit, carbon emissions (if you believe that is a problem), and other tail pipe emissions.

However, there is a reason for concern. Even though oil will become cheaper, the user's overal cost of energy will not go down and will likely go up because of the renewables component. Don't get me wrong, this is likely a reasonable price to pay for the benefits described above. But........ our expensive actions to solve our own problem, which has the effect of reducing world demand, gives the low oil price benefit to everyone else, whether they participate in the cost of providing that benefit or not. Friend or foe. That could have a major effect on our competitive position in most industries, which could have a major impact on our economy and standard of living.

Therefore it is important that some combination of coordinated international action along similar lines (on the one hand) and acknowledgement of the disadvantage this causes us with countries that don't participate in the form of trade considerations (on the other hand) need to accompany this initiative.

[TxAggie]

I agree with your thought about reducing our dependence on oil from the less friendly countries but what our own reserves right here in the good ole USA? Why not drill our own reserves, create our own jobs, improve our own economy, broaden our tax base, pay royalties to our own government? FYI the GOM produces 27% of our domestic crude production from one-half of one percent of the 1.7MM federal offshore acres. The carbon cap is nothing more than a tax on all of the Amercian people that will put us at an economic disadvantage to the rest of the world while undeveloped countries continue their polluting ways. Our economy will suck but at least we will be green right?

[Diogenis]

HuffPO....­..........­..........­....THE AUDIO IS STILL ON

[MobilizerJ]

I am so glad we have an intellegent president that believes in the spirit of the American people. I am going to change my light bulbs today! Thanks Mr President for your leadership! We can't expect to get different results by doing the same thing!

[petekwando]

This will be the second most difficult part of Obama's agenda to pass (the first, of course, being healthcare), but it may be the most important in terms of our nation's long-term survival.

[joebaggadonuts]

He's asking for a lot. We need to give a lot. It's our future.

[WestCoastWoman]

I am proud to have a president that is a true visionary and 21st Century man! President Obama... keep up the great job! I love America! Too bad most Teabagger Repubs don't seem to.

[Diogenis]

God bless the USA! Thank you Mr. President!

[GarysDiscardedCaps]

Repubs take note...he's doing all this talking w/o a teleprompter.

[tisfilm]

Wow, Obama's knowledge about Edwin Drake's oil drill. I bet He study America history what he learned America History and He is smart!!!

[AnnfromCA]

The kitchen sink method. He must have been impressed with how well that actually worked. :)

[DJ23]

here we go again

[eva belle]

There is my man...articulate and hot as ever!