http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/us/politics/obamas-2-billion-plan-to-replace-fossil-fuels-in-cars.html?src=mb
President Obama proposed a plan to divert $200 million dollars annually for a decade from federal oil and gas royalties to fund research on alternative vehicles powered by electricity, bio fuel and natural gas. This idea stemmed from the fact that Obama couldn't get any climate change legislative to pass through the Congress and now he is attempting smaller projects that can change United States's energy track.
I think this alternative energy plan is small step forward on United States's long journey to energy sustainability. I'm glad to read that Obama is finding alternatives to addressing our energy dependence other than attempting to get legislation through the Congress. This article has good quotes from the president and gives specifics on what Obama has planned for the funding. Does anyone think that investing in alternative energy for transportation is a good idea or should the federal government invest their money elsewhere?
I definitely think it's a good idea to invest in finding alternative energy sources for transportation. Alternative fuel and how to access it on our own has been a big issue and debate over the years. I think it's important that we find ways to create our own energy so we can stop depending on other countries. However, I did think the writer of this article did a very good job at weighing out the pros and cons of Obama's new plan.
ReplyDeleteKYLE WIGGERS: Thanks for pointing me to another wonderful article by New York Times staff! Concerning the issue discussed, I think Obama's strategy isn't necessarily novel or likely to garner much Congressional support, but it's still a step in the right direction; it's good to see him pushing "green" initiatives. Fossil fuels are expensive, harmful, and unsustainable. We need viable replacements soon.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it is a step in the right direction and the funding towards research can never hurt the future of the environment. This article makes Obama "look good" and show his support for growing green, but I also liked how their were some cons in the plan to even the issue out. There was also a good amount of quotes to help support the project and understanding more about the funding. I enjoyed this article and like how the author ended with a quote to make the reader think.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this article and I think that it brought up a very important issue that we are going to face in the future. We need to find other sources of energy and use them effectively and I think Obama's plan is a step in the right direction. It's also important to continue trying to clean up our environment. The article also discussed the negative aspects of his plan. Obama's plan to increase spending on alternative energy has a few cons such as the large amount of money being spent annually, as well as a negative opinion from Republican congressmen.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else that has commented on the story already, I too think that Obama's investigation of alternative energy is something worth while. I am not one to think that oil is something that is something we must absolutely move away from, however. Still it is never a bad idea to weigh your options. What I especially liked about this article is that is discusses the good and bad of Obama's initiative, thus proving to be an unbiased article. It really presents several views well. Like Katie, I am a big fan of ending a story in a quote that leaves a impact on the reader.
ReplyDeleteI think this article was well-written and is a small, positive step in the right direction. It would be very beneficial to eventually stop using as much oil, especially to our environment - now and in the future. The article did a nice job of explaining Obama's plan, goals and accomplishments, as well as different supporting and opposing viewpoints and opinions.
ReplyDeleteGood article, I think it very well written and informative. I enjoyed having a lot of details about the plan and the presentation as well, but I would like to know where the money is being diverted from. Additionally, I disagree with President Obama's plan. Does Obama not realize that the reason for gas spikes has everything to do with taxes and regulations put on oil companies by the federal government? "You can drill here, you cannot drill here, you must spend this much so you match regulation standards for this..." I hear a lot more about this issue because my dad works for an oil company, and interestingly enough all the oil companies are working towards alternative types of energy as well. This is their field, so if you let the companies recoup some of that money that they might be successful in searching out alternative energy? Nonetheless, I think the author did a good job of adding in different sources and points of view.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good representation of inverted pyramid style on a topic that isn't an event or something so cut an dry. The quotes were well integrated and added to the piece. It did a good job of declaring Obama's plan and showing what people thought about it. Overall, I enjoyed the article.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see the country starting to make progress in this area. We need to be more concerned about the environment. Also, our reliance on oil has caused many problems for our country. It can only help us to develop better alternatives. I liked how this article was written. It was easy to understand what Obama plans to do. While focusing on the positives of the plan, the article also gave cons which helps the reader see both sides.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good article that used the inverted pyramid style. It's also a very interesting topic. Personally, I don't agree with spending a lot of money on reducing our carbon footprint through things such as electric cars because down the line, electric cars still depend on fossil fuels to get energized. While it is more efficient to use electric cars, the money should go to research (such as hydrogen powered cars) that completely eliminates the use of fossil fuels.
ReplyDeleteI think this article is relevant and interesting. Energy sustainability is a big issue in our country, and we are constantly reminded of our need for alternative fuels when we fill up our tanks for over 4$ a gallon. It's good to see the President taking a stance to push for a brighter and more self-sufficient future. The article was well done as a narrative of the event, and provided a hopeful and interested outlook on what Obama is trying to accomplish in his new term.
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