Obama: My Budget 'Will Double Funding for Clean Energy Research and Development by 2020'

On a visit to Alaska, Obama used the state's changing landscape as an urgent call to action on climate change (AP File Photo)

(CNSNews.com) - "One of the greatest challenges of our time is climate change," President Obama said in his Saturday radio address.

"That's why the budget I will send to Congress this Tuesday will double funding for clean energy research and development by 2020. This will include new investments to help the private sector create more jobs faster, lower the cost of clean energy faster, and help clean, renewable power outcompete dirty fuels in every state."

Obama noted that Republicans went along with the boost in clean energy R&D in last year's budget agreement. "And I hope they support my plan to double that kind of investment."

Obama's said the new funding he's seeking "will include new investments to help the private sector create more jobs faster, lower the cost of clean energy faster, and help clean, renewable power outcompete dirty fuels in every state."

The president gave examples of how his spending on clean energy already is making a difference: "In Idaho, our Battery Test Center is helping electric cars run longer on a single charge. In Ohio, entrepreneurs are pioneering new ways to harness wind power from the Great Lakes. In Tennessee, researchers are partnering with utilities to boost storage and solar power to create a more resilient electric grid.

"The point is, all across the country, folks are putting their differences aside to face this challenge as one. Washington should do the same. That's how we're going to solve this challenge - together. And that's how we're going to give our kids and grandkids the future they deserve - one with a safe, secure, and prosperous planet."

On Sunday, the Washington Times reported that the Pentagon is ordering "the top brass" to consider climate change in everything they do -- "from testing weapons to training troops to war planning to joint exercises with allies."

According to the newspaper, the directive tells four-star generals and admiral to "incorporate climate change impacts into plans and operations and integrate DoD guidance and analysis in Combatant Command planning to address climate change-related risks and opportunities across the full range of military operations, including steady-state campaign planning and operations and contingency planning.”