Green technology

The president wants to see the amount of electricity generated from clean energy double by 2035. Today, the number stands at 40 percent. Clean energy would include electricity from solar, wind, natural gas, nuclear and clean coal plants that have carbon sequestration.

Where Kansas stands: Obama’s goals are more ambitious than the renewable energy portfolio standards the Kansas Legislature passed in 2009. Under those guidelines, starting this year utilities have to meet 10 percent of their peak energy demand through renewable resources. That number jumps to 15 percent in 2016 and then 20 percent by 2020.

Jobs

The president points to recently passed legislation as helping turn the economy around. Over the past year, more than 1 million jobs have been created in the private sector. In the year to come, economic forecasters project another 500,000 to 1.5 million new jobs.

Where Kansas stands: In December, the state’s unemployment rate stood at 6.4 percent. Over the past year, Kansas businesses gained 4,400 jobs, a 0.3 percent increase. December was the sixth consecutive month where the number of new jobs rose from the year before, according to Kansas Department of Labor data.

High speed rail

The president vows to invest now to increase high speed rail access. His goal is within 25 years, 80 percent of Americans will have convenient access to a high speed rail.

Where Kansas stands: Kansas doesn’t have any high speed rail systems and according to a 2010 state rail plan there are no federally designated high speed corridors for Kansas. The state does have some passenger rail transportation. On its long-distance route from Los Angeles to Chicago, Amtrak Train picks up passengers daily at six Kansas cities, including Lawrence.

Wireless network

Obama said that small towns as well as large cities should benefit from a 4G national wireless network. He is proposing that 98 percent of Americans have access to high speed Internet.

Where Kansas stands: Just 14 counties in Kansas have 60 percent of households connected to high speed Internet, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Over the past 13 months, Kansas has received $6.4 million in federal money to boost broadband access initiatives in the state.

Science teachers

The president wants to train 100,000 more science and technology teachers.

Where Kansas stands: According to the Kansas State Department of Education, the state doesn’t have a shortage in science and technology teachers. Of the state’s more than 44,000 licensed educators, 5,431 are certified to teach science. And, technology training is embedded in other teacher learning requirements. Lawrence also doesn’t have difficulty finding science and technology teachers, according to a spokesman.

Tax credit

Obama is calling to permanently extend the $2,500 tax credit for college tuition. The refundable tax credit would be available through four years of college for each student and is expected to reach 8 million to 10 million families a year.

Where Kansas University stands: For 2010 freshmen at KU, the $2,500 tax credit will cover about 32 percent of their tuition. For Kansas resident freshmen, tuition stands at $7,875 a year.