Obama like Ike? Calls for “clean energy superhighway” during Florida visit
by George Bennett | October 27th, 2009ARCADIA — Invoking America’s construction of an Interstate highway system half a century ago, President Obama today called for creation of a “clean energy superhighway” in remarks at a Florida Power and Light solar plant here.
The president announced $3.7 billion in federal grants for “smart grid” projects aimed at boosting the efficiency of the nation’s electricity network and enabling consumers to conserve energy and cut their utility bills.
Standing amid 90,500 solar panels at FPL’s 180-acre DeSoto County facility, Obama compared improving the national power network to President Eisenhower’s push for a national highway network in the 1950s.
“It’s time to make the same kind of investment in the way our energy travels, to build a clean energy superhighway that can take the renewable power generated in places like DeSoto and deliver it directly to the American people in the most affordable and efficient way possible.”
The $3.7 billion in federal grants include $200 million to FPL and more than $44 million to six other Florida recipients.
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October 27th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
We are on the brink of spawning a whole new industry in Florida if we can get Florida’s political leaders to support more projects like this that create Florida jobs and create more renewable energy.
“We need a political establishment united behind solar and other kinds of energy development, and relishing the national publicity Obama can give to our progress. Instead we have a governor too spooked and a Legislature too divided to take the obvious next steps.”
http://www.news-press.com/article/20091027/OPINION/910270318/1015/opinion/Editorial–Solar-power-should-be-above-politics
October 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
He can’t be like Ike until he passes the Highway Act that expired in September.