The NY Times think this from President Obama is eyebrow raising:

President Obama's newfound interest in expanded natural gas drilling yesterday surprised many on all sides of the drilling debate, from environmentalists to drillers and even the coal industry.

Representatives of drilling groups said they had no idea that Obama would make natural gas his lead olive branch to the newly empowered Capitol Hill Republicans. But they were pleased that he did.

Obama's remarks seemed to refer to vast new sources of shale gas in Pennsylvania, Texas and their neighboring states. Improvements in "hydraulic fracturing" technology have allowed production from formations under those states previously thought to be too expensive to exploit .

"We've got, I think, broad agreement that we've got terrific natural gas resources in this country," Obama said when he was pressed for issues on which he could compromise with Republican leaders. "Are we doing everything we can to develop those?"

To us it raises hopes, as the Republicans seem to be on the correct side of this issue, notice I didn't say right. There's already talk of a revived Pickens plan with an emphasis on natural gas vehicles and a more rational approach to generation dispatch.

That is the exact spot for compromise, where everyone wins. Here's hoping.

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Rio