Obama presents energy plan in Motor City

In addition to offering a critique of the US auto industry on its home turf, Barack Obama delved into his energy plan yesterday. The Detroit Free Press has a good article which covered his speech to the Detroit Economic Club, including a mention of why Obama chose to make the speech in Detroit (a decision which won him the endorsement of Michigan State Senator Hansen Clarke):

"I'm making this proposal ... because I don't believe in making proposals in California and giving a different speech in Michigan," he said.

More from Obama's speech:

"While foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars," Obama told a Detroit Economic Club luncheon at Cobo Center. "And whenever an attempt was made to raise our fuel-efficiency standards, the auto companies would lobby furiously against it, spending millions to prevent the very reform that could have saved their industry."

...

"Our goal is not to destroy the industry, but to help bring it into the 21st Century," Obama said. "So if the auto industry is prepared to step up to its responsibilities, then we as a country should be prepared to help."

As the Washington Post notes, however, Obama faces a tough position regarding his energy policy. As a Senator, Obama supports coal-to-liquids technology, a policy which angers environmentalists. Cathy Duvall, national political director of the Sierra Club, explains his situation further:

"Senator Obama right now is balancing two tensions. First off, he is a senator from Illinois, whose job it is to represent . . . one of the biggest coal-producing states in the country. On the other hand, he's also a presidential candidate and needs to demonstrate the leadership needed to move our entire country in the direction to tackle tough questions like energy independence and global warming."

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