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Obama talks up green while courting manufacturers

Posted at 4:52 PM on 14 May 2008

Barack Obama courted manufacturers in Michigan Wednesday, touting proposals to boost both green energy and the auto industry. He talked up a plan to auction carbon credits and use the funds to boost clean technology (and, in turn, green jobs), and said he would help the U.S. auto industry get back on its feet while encouraging investment in hybrids, electric vehicles, and other fuel-efficient cars. "I don't think that we need to give up on manufacturing," he told the Detroit Free Press. "We need to find new sources of manufacturing jobs. And I think creating green energy jobs and helping the auto industry to retool -- those are all areas with enormous promise." Obama's speech excited some in Silicon Valley, who are anxious to see more government backing for clean-tech enterprises.

sources: Detroit Free Press, Boston Globe, The New York Times

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Comments: (2 comments)

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

I hope my '88 Mazda lasts 2 more years...

Chevy Volt on Track for 2010 Debut

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-ne ...

Reuters reports, "General Motors Corp Chief Executive Rick Wagoner on Thursday said the No. 1 U.S. automaker had not hit any obstacles yet that would force it to delay the planned 2010 launch of its plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt." Though Wagoner "had earlier suggested that GM's target of launching the electric vehicle could slip," he now says the plug-in hybrid Volt is on target for 2010. Development of an all-electric Volt continues, with no date set for its release.

by jabailo at 11:16 PM on 14 May 2008

Rail a Better Idea

Much better off starting up a high-speed rail industry and the passenger rail industry in general than supporting the dying auto industry.

It is very questionable if the Volt is an environmentally better than other automobiles if you look at the full lifecycle costs including manufacturing, and the road and parking infrastructure required.

What is certain is as a form of transportation, the Volt is not any better. In fact, while there has been dramatic improvements in rail as a form of transportation over the last 30 years, the automobile is getting slowly worse due to every going congestion.

It is time the US embraced the future, ditch the automobile and invest massively in rail.

After being in Europe and taking rail everywhere, the automobile is so last century. For instance, St. Pancras Station in London, the Eurostar Station, has a Champagne Bar lining the platform. It is just sooo civilized.

by racc at 3:58 AM on 15 May 2008

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