US President Barack Obama challenged a joint session of Congress February 24 to send him carbon cap legislation as soon as possible to "save our planet from the ravages of climate change." He added that America's economic recovery "begins with energy" and that clean energy production would be a hallmark of his budget proposal, which he said would include $15 billion/year devoted to developing and deploying low-carbon energy. "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," Obama said in his address. "And to support that innovation, we will invest $15 billion 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."rnObama did not give emission reduction targets or a time frame for passing a carbon cap in his speech, but top aides have said they want to pass it either this year or next year. On the campaign trail, he pledged to pass a cap-and-trade system on greenhouse gases, slashing emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. He also pledged to spend $15 billion annually on advancing clean energy with an emphasis on renewable power.
展开▼
