Obama's call to action
Every time President Obama delivers a major speech energy is front and center. Tuesday's Congressional address was no exception. His words:
"Now is the time to act boldly and wisely, to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity.
Now is the time to jump-start job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy."
Obama later detailed his plans for energy, stating:
"Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.
But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America."
Take a close look at that language. Obama specifically calls for a US cap and trade system and pledges to invest $15 billion a YEAR in new clean tech technologies. Quite a committment.
To deliver on this committment, the entire cleantech eco-system--entrepreneurs, scientists, big energy, bankers, VCs, lawyers, cleantech PR professionals--needs to mobilize. One upcoming event here in Boston moving cleantech innovation forward is the AlwaysOn GoingGreen show (full disclosure, Schwartz is a sponsor). GoingGreen matches up entrepreneurs with the business eco-system (VCs, bankers, lawyers) they need to make their science reality.
Tags: AlwaysON, cleantech+pr, obama, public relations for clean technology companies
Posted by Mike Farber on February 26, 2009 at 6:41 AM
