Obama energy proposal drills to fund clean fuel tech, jobs![]() Washington (CNN) - With climate change as one of his administration's top priorities and the decision on the controversial Keystone pipeline expected at any time, President Obama takes his energy message to Chicago Friday. The president is expected to press Congress to pass an energy proposal that the administration says would target two billion dollars over ten years to wean cars and trucks from fossil fuels to clean energy and create clean energy jobs. The president announced his Energy Security Trust plan at his State of the Union address last month. Friday Mr. Obama will lay out details of the plan as he speaks at the Argonne National Labs outside Chicago. White House officials told reporters on a conference call Thursday, the money to fund the alternative fuel research will come from increased royalties from oil and gas drilling and leasing on federal land. The White House officials were quick to point out the administration does not plan to expand drilling areas especially on the Outer Continental Shelf but instead expect increased revenues due to streamlined leasing, increased production and upward price trends. The Energy Security Trust would require an act of Congress but White House officials said they are encouraged by early bipartisan support. The White House says this is just the latest in the president's "all above" energy approach. The Environmental Protection Agency Friday is expected to release a new report which the administration says underscores the progress made on the clean energy front including EPA estimates that CO2 emissions have decreased by 13% in the past five years and that fuel economy standards have increased by 16%. ![]() President Obama aboard Marine One leaves the White House Friday headed to Air Force One and then on to Chicago. (photo credit: Lesa Jansen) POTUS presses energy issues in Chicago![]() The president's schedule: 10:10AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South Lawn Open Press 10:25AM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route Chicago, Illinois Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage CDT 11:15AM THE PRESIDENT arrives Chicago, Illinois Chicago O'Hare InternationalAirport Open Press 11:55AM THE PRESIDENT tours the Argonne National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois Travel Pool Coverage |
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