John Deutch, professor of chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a former director of energy research and undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, writes in the Wall St. Journal that “President Obama has put energy and the environment at the top of his second-term agenda. The focus has been on climate change, and on exploiting the unexpected plenty of North American oil, gas and energy technology. The administration’s progress has been notable—especially in comparison with health care, immigration and foreign affairs.”  

“The president’s highest priority is to reduce the carbon-dioxide emissions of existing electricity generating power plants. In June the Environmental Protection Agency released an unexpectedly thoughtful and well-supported plan setting specific goals for reducing emissions chosen from a menu of measures…”  

The piece continues: “The president’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions through regulation thus appears to be succeeding, though the EPA may suffer a backlash.”  

The piece concludes: “President Obama is having greater success in advancing his energy agenda in his second term than in his first. But it will take more than one successful term to secure the country’s energy future. To coin a phrase for the next president: One good term deserves another.”