All-In on Energy?
Posted January 18, 2012 at 3:16 pm 
Filed in: The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness recently released their report addressing comprehensive strategy recommendations to improve the job market. The report is comprised of a three pronged strategy, “Invest in the Future,” “Build on our Strengths” and “Play to Win.” Energy is included in the “Play to our Strengths” initiative, with the strategy defined simply as all-in. Not all-in on one specific strategy like fossil fuels development or fuel efficiency, but all in across the board: research and development, domestic production, alternative fuel vehicles, renewable electricity generation, ARPA-E and the DOE loan guarantee program, coal gasification, advanced nuclear, effectively every source to increase long- and short-term domestic energy supply.
The Jobs Council Report should be praised for its scope in addressing the importance of both energy progress and pragmatism. An emphasis on green energy and renewable sources could have been anticipated, but the report also stresses the importance of increased fossil fuels development for the foreseeable future, stating,
“While we believe the United States, as well as the rest of the world, needs to move deliberately and cost-effectively towards greater proportions of renewable and low carbon forms of energy, we recognize that this will be a long term transition and that traditional forms of fossil energy will continue to be important to our economy as we transition.”
With regard to alternative fuel vehicles, the report discusses the importance of the government’s role in scaling up fully electric vehicles and hybrids, by increasing purchases from state and federal government agencies (including the military), as well as research to support advancements in battery technologies. The tremendous upside: “widespread adoption of vehicles powered by electricity, natural gas, and alternative fuels could hasten and make permanent our return to being a net exporter of petroleum.”
This goal is urgent and essential, and the jobs report delivers in addressing a full spectrum of goals, many of which are advocated by SAFE. However, many more specific details about the various recommendations are needed to secure sustained energy-industry growth. Furthermore, since the release of the report, the Administration’s first major energy move has been to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. Of course, those following the controversial pipeline’s lengthy approval process know Obama’s rejection only applies to TransCanada’s proposed route through the Nebraska Sandhills, and the company can re-apply upon development of an alternative route (industry officials are expecting TransCanada to submit a new version within two weeks). Still, as Keystone has emerged as such a powerful symbol of shovel-ready, energy producing jobs; it’s a bold move and arguably a direct contradiction to “all-in.”
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