Green leaders stimulated by Obama's plan  

Grist reports that environmentalists in the US are generally upbeat about Obama's economic stimulus plans, but would like more support for mass transit - Green leaders stimulated by Obama's plan.

Environmental leaders gave a big thumbs-up to Barack Obama's economic stimulus proposal on Thursday, though they pledged to continue pushing to make the bill as green as possible, particularly on transportation issues. ...

Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope was also effusive in a statement: "These initiatives are a win-win for a strong economy and a healthier environment. They will create good jobs here in America and reduce our dependence on dirtier energy sources like oil and coal by promoting the shift to wind and solar power and high-energy-performance, low-carbon cars and buildings." ...

Said Cathy Zoi, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, "This increased investment in renewables, efficiency, and our energy infrastructure is a crucial first step in boosting our economy, ending our reliance on dirty coal and foreign oil, and solving the climate crisis."

Blue Green Alliance Executive Director David Foster told Grist that he thinks the plan is on the right trajectory, though he hasn't seen enough detail yet to determine whether there's adequate funding for green programs. ...

"I think we're waking up and realizing that this is not just the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, it's actually going to turn into the greatest unemployment crisis since the Great Depression, and we need to focus on that human aspect of this," Foster continued. "Alcoa announced that it was laying off 13,000 employees a few days ago. All other manufacturing companies I'm aware of are thinking about this situation as in free fall. I don't think we've quite grasped yet how serious the economic devastation is out in Main Street, and we need to be thinking about all the different ways we're going to transform the economy so that long-term it delivers on the jobs we need both now and in the future."

One area of concern for environmentalists is transportation. They had hoped to see dedicated funding for mass transit in the Obama plan, but the draft in circulation doesn't include any.

Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke told Grist she hasn't yet reviewed the entire Obama plan, but will be working with Congress to make sure that mass transit sees increased funding, either through a stimulus bill or the transportation bill expected later this year. "There will be more than one opportunity, but it's critical that in the stimulus package transportation, particularly transit, get much greater attention," she said. "We need greater investment not only to improve the transit systems we have, but to get more light rail, bus services, and rail, so not all Americans are as dependent on the car as they are now. People want choices and we need to provide them."