President Barack Obama spoke to and met with the Business Roundtable today in a speech that could be described as extending an arm, seeking agreement to work together for the common good. This could be a real challenge as, for example, Obama challenged business leaders to lead beyond the daily stock ticker and the quarterly profits report.
It is undoubtedly in the short-term interest of individual corporations to pay less in taxes and deal with fewer regulations. But it is in the long-term interest of all companies to do business in a nation that maintains the world's best research facilities and universities; a nation with public schools that graduate highly-skilled, highly-educated workers; a nation with functioning railways and airports; a nation that is not dragged down by crushing debt.
These are tremendous challenge in getting businesses (and, well, the entire culture and nations) engaged in climate mitigation. The daily stock ticker, quarterly profit reporting, and the massive discounting of the future is no small part of that. There are very (very) few business enterprises which will truly thrive amid catastrophic climate chaos. Even so, as climate disruption mounts, the polar ice melts, and the risks of climate change become more apparent, there are few on Wall Street ready to embrace concerted action to mitigate climate change even as seizing a leading position in the clean energy revolution offers such strong potential for tomorrow's profits even while insuring against tomorrow's risks.
President Obama spoke to this opportunity and the fact that, with every passing moment, America is falling behind.
we need to build an economy where we borrow less and produce more. We need an economy where we generate more jobs here at home and send more products overseas. We need to invest and nurture the industries of the future, and we need to train our workers to compete for those jobs.Nations around the world, from Asia to Europe, have already realized this. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're building high-speed railroads and expanding broadband access. They're making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs.
These countries know what's required to compete in the 21st century. But so do we. And as I said in the State of the Union, I do not accept second place for the United States of America.
Obama, in a backhand manner, reminded people that he is no socialist even as he reaffirmed a role for government.
Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, I am an ardent believer in the free market. I believe businesses like yours are the engines of economic growth in this country. You create the jobs. You develop new products and cutting-edge technologies. And you create the supply chains that make it possible for smaller businesses to open their doors. So I want everyone in this room to succeed. I want your shareholders to do well, and I want your workers to do well. Because I firmly believe that America's success in large part depends on your success.But I also believe this: government has a vital, if limited, role to play in fostering sustained economic growth. Throughout our history, it has done so in three ways. ... Second, only government can make those investments in common goods that serve the general welfare but are too expensive for any individual or firm to buy on their own.
A competitive America is also an America that finally has a smart energy policy. We know there is no silver bullet here - that to reduce our dependence on oil and the damage caused by climate change, we need more production, more efficiency, and more incentives for clean energy.
It is a sign of Obama's understanding that he uses (often) the point that "there is no silver bullet". Now, sadly, "more production" for him includes fossil fuel production, but the fact is that betting on a "silver bullet" solution is a high risk bet while a diversified portfolio approach is more likely to lead to success in navigating the dangerous shoals of peak oil and global warming.
Already, the Recovery Act has allowed us to jumpstart the clean energy industry in America - an investment that will lead to 720,000 clean energy jobs by 2012. To take just one example, the United States used to make less than 2% of the world's advanced batteries for hybrid cars. By 2015, we'll have enough capacity to make up to 40% of these batteries.This is a point that too few Americans realize, that the Stimulus Package is setting the stage for increased American competitiveness and that additional resources could insure that we stand atop that stage.
We've also launched an unprecedented effort to make our homes and businesses more energy efficient.Sadly, this has been slow-rolled with slow hiring and other challenges but the process seems to be moving forward now.
We've announced loan guarantees to break ground on America's first new nuclear plant in nearly three decades. We are supporting three of the largest solar plants in the world. And I've said that we're willing to make tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.Well, unlike the State of the Union speech, at least President Obama mentioned solar. Now, to this audience, is expanded oil and gas development a "tough decision". To be honest, perhaps Obama can gain points in this audience by making it quite explicit, directly explicit, that he is willing to anger people who have thought through our energy and climate challenges opportunities (like me) in compromises to get cooperation from recalcitrants like many he spoke to today. Instead, he seems to be giving up concession after concession without first securing commitments from those he seeks to placate.
But to truly transition to a clean energy economy, I've also said that we need to put a price on carbon pollution.This is important. President Obama didn't step away from putting a price on carbon ... whether that would be via some form of Cap & Trade or a direct fee.
Pricing carbon, pricing the costs of pollution within the traditional financial contract, is a critical step to enable business planning for more rapid moves toward a lower carbon emissions economy.
Many businesses have embraced this approach - including some here today. Still, I am sympathetic to those companies that face significant transition costs, and I want to work with organizations like this to help with those costs and get our policies right.An olive branch: I stand ready to work with you and help you through the transition costs.
What we can't do is stand still. The only certainty of the status quo is that the price and supply of oil will become increasingly volatile; that the use of fossil fuels will wreak havoc on weather patterns and air quality. But if we decide now that we're putting a price on this pollution in a few years, it will give businesses the certainty of knowing they have time to plan and transition. This country has to move towards a clean energy economy. That's where the world is going. And that's how America will remain competitive and strong in the 21st century.This is an important and truthful statement. Hopefully those in the room (and elsewhere around the nation) had their minds open to hearing and understanding this.
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And while putting a price on carbon could be helpful, Here is an alternative that can garner the support necessary fast enough to help address the problem.
The rising price of oil is likely to cause another financial cataclysm in the next couple of years.
Ordinary water is an alternative to oil when it is used to supply fractional Hydrogen, a little known breakthrough.
See: "Hydrinos Offer Free Fuel for the World's Power Plants" at www.american-reporter.com
We are developing fractional hydrogen to allow water to become the fuel for hybrid cars. A few gallons might power an automobile 1,000 miles; since one barrel of water can equal 200 barrels of oil.
These engines will be designed to run when the car is parked, providing up to 150 kilowatts of electricity to the local power company. No wires needed. The vehicles might be able to pay for themselves!
See: http://www.aesopinstitute.org to learn more.
Two laboratories have validated fractional Hydrogen. More, including the national labs, ought to do so without delay.
Once ordinary water becomes a clear alternative to oil, it will become obvious that cars as power plants will be an inexpensive alternative to building new coal or nuclear plants.
Sale of electricity from a parked car was demonstrated last week. With 10 kW, the car earned $30/hr. Imagine what 150 kW might earn.
Consumer demand might rapidly reduce the need for fossil fuels!
IMO, we ought to ban the quarterly report. This would force profit and loss reporting back to a company's fiscal year, and let them focus on growing and sustaining their actual long term business, rather than just jumping and genuflecting to the market.