The Ellwood City (PA) Ledger reports that “local environmental and industry officials are sounding off on President Barack Obama’s State of the Union report — and their reactions range from saying the president isn’t doing enough for energy-sector job creation to arguing that he isn’t doing enough to protect the environment from energy-related impacts.”  

“’Tonight, President Obama laid out his vision of opportunity for our nation and made it clear that our children will hold us accountable for what we do — or do not do — to address climate disruption,’ said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.”  

“Yet others stressed the energy sector’s important role in job creation, and urged the president to take action in that regard.”  

“’From 2007 to 2012, the places that saw median household income grow were predominantly energy-producing areas,’ said Pennsylvania’s U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, noting that median family income is down by $2,000 since Obama took office. ‘Let’s approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would create many jobs for Pennsylvania-based contractors and suppliers and allow the production of oil and gas on more federal lands to diminish our dependence on foreign energy.’”